Halo

Well guys I just got back from vacation (literally, I walked in the door twenty minutes ago), and I finished this on the ferry ride home. I didn't know to much about this book but found out I have a ARC coming of Hades, the second book in this trilogy by Alexandra Adorenetto so I had to read this one.

Summary:Three angels- Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human- are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness. They must work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them. Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.

The angel’s mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

You know the John Lennon song Imagine? It's main line is this "Imagine they'res no heaven, above us only sky", even if you haven't heard it you get the jest of it from that line. Unfortunately for Bethany Church (Church, what a original last name for a angel!) there is a heaven and she's a part of it and that means it's pretty hard to have a dating life.

To simplify this book it's basically a "youth in revolt" novel. I know what you're thinking, "Benji! What? Seriously!?" but think about it, an angel rebelling against god, yep, you heard me, not rebelling against teachers, parents, the or government, no actually against the creator himself. And though the romance between Beth and Xavier is nice, if you can't trust an angel to obey and be loyal, who can you?

I was doubtful about this book, I mean it sounds a lot like Twilight. But then after 100 pages I was hooked!

I loved the character of Beth, (except for the critique above). She's nice to just about anyone which does get her in some trouble (not going to say anymore for fear of spoiling). And though she's an angel she thinks a lot like a human and relates to them a lot.

Xavier is the classic popular high school boy. He too is friends with everybody, plays almost every sport imaginable, and is the most sought after boy at school.

I was surprised to find out that Adorenetto, the author is only 18, she has a brilliant writing style of a experienced author.

The only problem I have with this book is that the author is Australian so instead of football Xavier is on the rugby team, I mean, get real, it takes place is Georgia!

I loved this book from cover to cover, it has a little bit of everything, a delightful read.

5/5

Book Battle Update: 12th book read in the book battle.

The Goddess Test

After seeing this book around and reading review's of it, I finally decided to dive into The Goddess Test, Aimée Carter's debut novel.

Summary: It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

So ever since reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, I've been loving the "gods in real world" genre so after reading the plot I was hooked. From page one I loved the character of Kate, she was really a great person and someone anyone would be lucky to have as a friend. Characters were a big part of this book and most of them I loved, except for Henry- I felt like that he wasn't really Hades. Hades is supposed to be a devilish trickster of the underworld, not a mirror of Edward from The Twilight Saga. That was probably the only flaw in the book. I loved every moment and Aimée Carter had a great writing style, it really flowed along perfectly. There is supposed to be a sequel, which I can't wait to read but this book summed it up pretty well. A strong debut for Aimée Carter.

5/5

Red Riding Hood

In the Gothic adaptation of the classic fairy tale, based on the screen play that inspired the new hit movie and written by Sarah Blakley-Cartwight. Valerie's sister was beautiful, kind, and sweet. Now she is dead. Henry, the handsome son of the blacksmith, tries to console Valerie, but her wild heart beats fast for another: the outcast woodcutter, Peter, who offers Valerie another life far from home.

After her sister's violent death, Valerie's world begins to spiral out of control. For generations, the Wolf has been kept at bay with a monthly sacrifice. But now no one is safe. When an expert Wolf hunter arrives, the villagers learn that the creature lives among them - it could be anyone in town.

It soon becomes clear that Valerie is the only one who can hear the voice of the creature. The Wolf says she must surrender herself before the blood moon wanes...or everyone she loves will die.

Okay, so a pretty scary version of the classic fairy tale we all say his babyish! I didn't have huge expectations for this book. I thought it was going to be one of those books without any writing style; just writing exactly everything that happens in the movie. I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading it and found out that it was very personal, switching narration from five different characters; Each telling the story from their mind. The one thing was the fight scenes, which went on way to long and started getting really boring. Editing people! Another thing was the sort of 2-d that all the characters had except for Valerie, maybe the author was just trying to make the star shine by placing her in a 2-d setting. All in all, a fun, sorta-scary, Twilight style novel.

4/5