Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent #2

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publication Date: May 1, 2012

Length: 525 Pages

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

MY REVIEW

Insurgent is masterfully written to keep readers on their toes right before sweeping their legs out from under them completely. After the events in Divergent, the factions are heading to war and it could destroy everything. Insurgent picks up exactly where Divergent left off so readers do not miss any of the action. The pending war has everyone choosing a side and some of the choices will catch readers off guard. Dauntless is torn right down the middle, some supporting Erudite out fear and the others wanting to make sure that the events in Divergent do not happen again, by taking away Erudite`s power.

Insurgent at times took my breath away, and there were many emotional moments. Insurgent was much darker and deeper than Divergent, and I think that made me love it more. I loved Divergent, but I am head over heels with Insurgent. Insurgent really explores how people choose to survive. There are people who would rather take the easy way out whether right or wrong, and there are people who will stand up against oppression no matter the cost, and the few caught in the middle not quite sure what to do. This is just humanity at its core, Fight or Flight. 

Tris in Insurgent is different from the Tris I knew in Divergent, simply because of events in the Divergent. As Tris tries to learn to live with what happened, she also has to confront the impending danger of the Erudites. The Divergent are at risk, and Tris and Four have the largest targets on their backs. 

I was worried that Insurgent would not live up to the magnificence that is Divergent, but I am so beyond please that Insurgent is its own work of genius. I know this will be continue to be one of my favorite series, and I cannot wait for the next installment. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf borrowed this book from the public library**

Have you read Insurgent?

How excited are you for Divergent #3?

Cover Reveal: Grab Your Pole Series by Jenn Cooksey

I have heard nothing but great things about the Grab Your Pole series, and I jumped at the chance to reveal the new covers. The first cover has been redesigned to match the new cover for the second book, The Other Fish in the Sea. 

ABOUT THE BOOKS

Title: Shark Bait

Author: Jenn Cooksey

Series: Grab Your Pole #1

Publication Date: June 15, 2012

Amazon

Previously homeschooled Camie Ramsey is being shoved into the shark-infested waters of public high school, where even helium filled, penguin bespeckled arm floaties likely won’t help keep her inexperienced, fifteen-year old head above water in that rip current of hormones and emotions.
Camie’s worldly wisdom might be severely lacking (i.e., the closest she’s come to being kissed was sitting too close to the TV whilst Jake Ryan leaned in to give Samantha that fateful 16th birthday kiss), but she does understand her only hope for survival is if she’s thrown some kind of "social" life preserver before she sinks like a freaking rock. However, what will her fate be when she endeavors to flag down the only lifeguard on duty, the enormously popular and ridiculously beautiful Tristan Daniels? The most sought after and virtually most unattainable guy in school who not only makes Camie’s heart flatline on a recurring basis, he’s also the one guy who seemingly doesn’t know she exists.
Feeling like an inept piece of chum that could ultimately be swallowed by Jaws, can Camie get Tristan to rescue her from floundering in the treacherous deep, or is she destined to be Shark Bait?
Author’s Note: While the tales themselves are fictional, some of the events and characters are very loosely based in reality and on my experiences "but don’t worry, the names of the characters, most of their unfortunate fashion sense and/or questionable taste in music has been changed to protect the not-so innocent.

Title:  The Other Fish in the Sea

Author: Jenn Cooksey

Series: Grab Your Pole #2

Publication Date:  Spring 2013

Due to language and some adult content, this book may not be suitable for readers under the age of 16.
Camie and Tristan are back and so are their friends! Dive deeper into the lives of the GYP gang with The Other Fish in the Sea, the second installment in the Grab Your Pole Series by Jenn Cooksey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenn Cooksey is a Southern California girl born and bred, and proudly boasts being a member of Grossmont High School's alumni.
She currently resides in the 7th Ring of Hell (aka; Arizona) with her husband (whom she married on a dare while in Las Vegas), their three daughters, and more pets than she has the patience to count.
Aside from her husband and one cat, everyone living under the Cooksey's roof is female. She's sure her husband will be not only be awarded sainthood when he kicks the bucket, but that Jesus will welcome him into heaven with a beer and a congratulatory high-five.
She also believes that Bacon should be capitalized. Always.

Visit Jenn Cooksey

Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook 

I am going to have to pick up these books soon, because I have heard nothing but glowing reviews of Shark Bait. I also love the new covers!

What do you think of the new covers?

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway of Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland

Welcome to Unabridged Bookshelf's stop for the Vengeance Bound Blog Tour! This wonderful tour was organized by AToMR Tours! To experience all the wonderful stops along this tour, make sure to click the banner above for the full schedule!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Vengeance Bound

Author: Justina Ireland

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publication Date: April 2, 2013
Amazon | Indiebound

The Goddess Test meets Dexter in an edgy, compelling debut about one teen’s quest for revenge… no matter how far it takes her.
Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies—the hawk and the serpent—lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.
Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work? As Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she’s worked so hard to build.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Justina Ireland enjoys dark chocolate, dark humor, and is not too proud to admit that she’s still afraid of the dark. She lives with her husband, kid, and dog in Pennsylvania. Vengeance Bound is her first novel.

FOLLOW JUSTINA IRELAND

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

MY REVIEW

**This Review is from an ARC**

Vengeance Bound takes the idea of revenge to a new level in this retelling of The Furies mythology. Amelie Ainsworth prayed for help and The Furies were the ones who responded. Now Amelie has to deal out justice to those the furies find to be guilty. She must have full control over them, or the Furies will leave their judgment’s souls burned into nothing. It does not help that she is haunt by her past, including Dr. Goodhart, which is why she changes her name to Cory Graff. 

To avoid the attention of Law Enforcement, Cory is forced to move every few months when the bodies start to pile up. As an orphan, she has no one to turn too, and must rely on only herself. She does what she has too to satisfy the Furies and keep her secret safe. Then she meets Niko, and for once in her life, she stops hearing the Furies, because they have nothing bad to say about Niko. 

Cory is a tragically damaged character from enduring the curse of the Furies and other traumatic events in her past. At times, Cory is very disconnected to the people around her, but craves to feel like a normal teenager. As she starts crushing on Niko, Cory begins to wonder if she could ever be free from the Furies and live a normal life. Niko is a sensitive and caring, which is not something Cory is use too. His personality helps counterbalance some of the more angry tenancies of Cory’s personality. 

Vengeance Bound was a tragic, sometimes disturbing, but very addicting read. I liked the experience of watching Amelie/Cory growing and changing throughout the course of the story. Justina Ireland has made me remember my passion and love for mythology. I know that I will defiantly be reading more mythology and mythology retellings in the future!

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book as part of an ARC tour in exchange for an honest review**

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Book Review: Last Breath by Rachel Caine

Title: Last Breath

Author: Rachel Caine

Series: Morganville Vampires #11

Publisher: New American Library

Publication Date: November 1, 2011

Length: 335 Pages

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Last Breath

With her boss preoccupied researching the Founder Houses in Morganville, student Claire Danvers is left to her own devices when she learns that three vampires have vanished without a trace. She soon discovers that the last person seen with one of the missing vampires is someone new to town-a mysterious individual named Magnus. After an uneasy encounter with Morganville's latest resident, Claire is certain Magnus isn't merely human. But is he a vampire-or something else entirely?

MY REVIEW

Oh Morganville, I have missed you and all your craziness. Last Breath is the eleventh installment in the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine. While series that continue for so long start to suffer story wise, I think Morganville has actually gotten better. What a fitting title for this book, because Last Breath had many moments that took my breath away. New enemies are introduced, one which poses the greatest danger yet to both the vampires and humans that live in Morganville. This is saying a lot if you have read any of the other installments of the Morganville series.

The Morganville Vampire series continues to be one of my favorite vampire series, because of the characters. The four main characters are so realistic, and they are not perfect, but they are a family of sorts. Claire is a main character, who is actually a genius who started college at 16. Claire is very selfless, who cares about everyone, and just wants to help. She is also tough as nails when it comes to protecting the innocence, and those who hold a special place in her heart. Shane is a bad boy with a tragic past full of loss and abuse. Shane in previous books is very hot headed and extremely anti-vampire, but as his relationship with Claire has become serious he is leaving his bad boy rebellious nature behind. I really like this development for Shane.

The other two main characters are facing battle all their own with the people of Morganville. Eve and Michael are very much in love and want to get married. While this should not be an issue in a normal town, in Morganville it is a very big problem. Michael is basically a newly turned vampire, and Eve is human. This causes an upset, because of the risks that are proposed, but mostly it is a game of politics and a vampire marrying a human does not sit well with the leaders.

I will have to say that my favorite character in Last Breath is Myrnin. Myrnin is a very old vampire, but young and attractive in appearance, but he has a tendency to visit Crazy Town on a regular basis. In Last Breath, Myrnin has a moment of complete vulnerability, and readers get to see his true emotions. I think it made me love him even more as a character. Myrnin is usually very selfish, and it was surprising to see him in a different light.

I have loved each book in the Morganville Vampire series, but I think Last Breath takes the series to a new level. There is just a sense of doom that was not there before, and it makes you wonder what is going to happen to Morganville. If you have yet to pick up book 1, Glass Houses, pick it up, I promise you will not be disappointed. I am really looking forward to reading Black Dawn and seeing where the story goes.

**Unabridged Bookshelf purchased this book**

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Book Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #2
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Length: 391 Pages

*Entire Trilogy:  Amazon| Barnes and Noble*

Sparks are igniting, flames are spreading and the Capitol wants revenge.
Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.

MY REVIEW

Oh, Catching Fire why must you do this to me! I really thought I was on Team Gale after The Hunger Games but I really think Peeta stepped up in Catching Fire. I may just be changing my mind, but it is up to Mockingjay to form my final opinion. Catching Fire builds on top of the tiny sparks left by The Hunger Games and turns the story on its head. Katniss feels very alone in the beginning of Catching Fire. She knows that she is facing trouble from the Capitol, and Peeta and her have a very strained relationship as do her and Gale. As a young woman who could not have understood the implications of her actions, Katniss must strive to prove that she and Peeta are deeply in love, or danger may be lurking around the corner for her and her loved ones.

The suspense of Catching Fire, and some specific moments I am not going to spoil for other readers stole my breath away. The tension in Catching Fire can be felt almost right away and it continues throughout the book. The districts are on the verge of rebellion, and the Capitol is looking to place blame, blame that is falling on Katniss. Catching Fire is an emotional read, because there are moments when I actually had to stop reading just to catch my breath and re-center myself before continuing.

I think where sometime in a trilogy or series the second book does not live up to the hype of the first book, but that is not the case with Catching Fire. If anything I think, Catching Fire outshines The Hunger Games, which is not an easy task to accomplish. Katniss has always been a very caring character, but in Catching Fire, readers get a glimpse of what she would be willing to do to save those she cares about the most.

I wanted to read Catching Fire ever since I read the Hunger Games before seeing the movie. I cannot wait to continue with Mockingjay, and I am glad I did not have to a year for it to come out like original Hunger Games fans. I really wish I had read it soon, because it is an original masterpiece of young adult fiction, which will remain popular for years to come.

**Unabridged Bookshelf purchased this item for their own collection**

Are You Team Peeta or Team Gale?

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Cover Reveal: Frigid by J. Lynn

Title: Frigid
Author: J. Lynn
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Expected Publication: Digital; July 30, 2013 Print; November 5, 2013

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.
Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.
But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Lynn, also known as Jennifer L. Armentrout, is a # 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. She lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russel Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Follow Jennifer Armentrout/J. Lynn

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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The Witch Avenue Series Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on The Witch Avenue Series Blog Tour! I have a review of Altered Souls, book 2 in the series, and there is a tour giveaway. This tour is organzied by AToMR Tours, and the full tour schedule is available by clicking the banner above. 

ABOUT THE BOOKS

Title: Lonely Souls

Author: Karice Bolton

Series: The Witch Avenue Series #1

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

**Currently Free on Amazon**

It's two weeks before Triss turns 18, and her world is about to change into the most magical one imaginable as she readies herself to enter The Witch Avenue Order... that is until her mother's disappearance. Instead of celebrating her transformation, she finds herself spreading rose petals into her mother's empty grave.
When Logan, her best friend from junior high, moves back to town for college, he vows to help her find the answers she so desperately seeks surrounding her mother's disappearance. As they begin uncovering clues, it becomes apparent that the life of white magic they both grew up loving is not what the majority practices, and their lives are in danger.
With a haunting feeling that her mother may still be alive, she begins to hear a call to the wilderness. Triss realizes that in order to find the answers she needs, she must learn the ways of her ancestors and become the hunter, not the hunted before it's too late, and she becomes part of the lonely souls.

Title: Altered Souls

Author: Karice Bolton

Series: The Witch Avenue Series #2

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

The realm of Altered Souls brings nothing but unrest, deceit, and pain forcing Triss to come face to face with heartbreak from her past.
Facing a betrayal like never before, Triss questions everything she thought she knew about her family, coven, and abilities.
With the help of Logan, she embarks on a journey enabling her to confront the dark side of magic and the person who controls it. Realizing Triss’s ancestors have been seduced for centuries by the dark side, Triss and Logan must ensure no more in their world fall victim to the realm of Altered Souls, even if that means ending the ones they love.

Title: Released Souls

Author: Karice Bolton

Series: The Witch Avenue Series #3

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Triss and Logan’s love is becoming stronger by the day as they harness the powers between them, but will that make them blind to the evil they’re facing?
After uncovering startling information about her family, Triss is determined to right the wrongs of her ancestors. Triss and Logan uncover who has infiltrated the covens across the globe, and they realize the plans of the dark side are far more sinister than they’d ever imagined.
As the power of this hidden world is exposed, Triss learns her role in the covens. With Logan, Dace and Bakula’s assistance, Triss is now able to fully realize the abilities her ancestors have given her.
It won’t be long until the dark forces regain their strength, especially as their leader, Eben, continues his quest for a power that can never be revoked. Triss must stop him before it is too late.