Showing posts with label Alexandra Adornetto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alexandra Adornetto. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Book Review: Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto

Release Date: August 26th, 2014
Read: November 7th- 8th, 2015
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Series: The Ghost House Saga, #1
Format: ARC, 320 pages
Source: Gifted



Description from GoodReads:



   After the loss of her mother, Chloe Kennedy starts seeing the ghosts that haunted her as a young girl again. Spending time at her grandmother's country estate in the south of England is her chance to get away from her grief and the spirits that haunt her. Until she meets a mysterious stranger…

   Alexander Reade is 157 years dead, with secrets darker than the lake surrounding Grange Hall and a lifelike presence that draws Chloe more strongly than any ghost before. But the bond between them awakens the vengeful spirit of Alexander's past love, Isobel. And she will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who threatens to take him from her.

   To stop Isobel, Chloe must push her developing abilities to their most dangerous limits, even if it means losing Alex forever… and giving the hungry dead a chance to claim her for their own.


Review:


   The dead never stop envying the living.
   A few years ago I read the Halo Trilogy by Alexandra Adornetto, and I guess you could say I somewhat loved it. So imagine my happiness to hearing about a new series from Adornetto, and it being from HarlequinTeen no less! I requested it, and even won a giveaway for an ARC, even though it never showed up. I was stoked to get my hands on it, that was until I started to hear people's opinions on the book. Everyone was disappointed with it, they said to not bother picking up a copy. So when I finally did get that ARC I was so actively looking for, I just never ended up reading it. Until now that is.
   The first thing I noticed when I started to read the book was how immature the main character was, I just couldn't stand her. She was a shallow, 17 year old that's gotten everything she's ever wanted in life by just asking for it. Normally if the author had actually planned the character this way it would have been fine, but the impression I got from the character was that it was a normal occurrence and how life should be. I was not comfortable with that.
   Then there's the relationship between our main character Chloe and Alex, EW. Honestly, after everything she has learned about him how could she not be creeped out by him? Plus he's dead, why should she go for him when there is a perfectly alive human being who has risked his life for her, right there. I would cringe every time they were together or if Chloe thought of him. Nope, nope, nope.
   Finally, Adornetto's writing, I found it very repetitive. If something would happen, Chloe would always say "I noticed.." It grew quite boring. Then there was the things the characters would say, it was all cringe factor.
   Ghost House was written poorly for me and all the characters made me cringe, but Alexandra Adornetto still had me wanting more of the plot. If for some reason Ghost Hour ends up in my possession then maybe I'll end up reading it, but for now I think it's best if I stayed away from this author.

Rating:


Favourite Quote:


   " Where did our loved ones go after death? They didn't go anywhere. They stayed right where you left them, because you carried them with you. They were apart of you, like a tattoo. Trying to forget them was like trying to forget you had legs."


Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Haunted Houses, Ghosts






Thursday, August 27, 2015

ARC August Wrap Up!

   Unfortunately I didn't get all the books I had wanted read, read. I really didn't get any reading done this month, besides the few books I read while camping at the beginning of the month. I've never been good with keeping a reading schedule, and this month sure proves it.
 
   I read a whole 2 1/2 ARCs this month, Illuminae, Vengeance Road, and I'm currently reading Walk on Earth a Stranger. I had also planned to read Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto and The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow but I just never got to them, I'm sure I'll read Scorpion Rules next month before it releases!
 
   In all I think I actually did pretty well! Anyhow that concludes ARC August for me, I hope I'll do better next year!
 
   Stay tuned for my reviews of Illuminae and Walk on Earth a Stranger closer to their release dates!
 

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff


Release Date: October 20th, 2015
Publisher: Knof Books for Young Readers
Series: The Illuminae Files, #1


Description from GoodReads:


   This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

   This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

   The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

   But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

   Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Review to come closer to the publication date!




Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman


Release Date: September 1st, 2015
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Series: N/A



Description from GoodReads:


   When Kate Thompson’s father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, the eighteen-year-old disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers and justice. What she finds are devious strangers, dust storms, and a pair of brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, she gets closer to the truth about herself and must decide if there's room for love in a heart so full of hate.


   
In the spirit of True Grit, the cutthroat days of the Wild West come to life for a new generation.

You can check my review here!



Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson


Release Date: September 22nd, 2015
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Series: The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1


Description from GoodReads:


   Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.

   Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research.

Review to come closer the Publication date. 

 
   How did you do with ARC August? Let me know in the comments!
 
 


 

Monday, August 3, 2015

ARC August


   So ARC August was created by the fabulous Octavia and Shelly from Read. Sleep. Repeat! It was created to get a handle on all the ARCs bloggers and readers are behind on! Alongside friends, its supposed to be a fun experience! 


Rules:


-It may be a physical ARC or eARC but it MUST be an ARC

-Yes it can be an ARC that has already released; as long as it’s an ARC I’m not going to nit pick really.

-HAVE FUN WITH THIS! Feeling like you are being “forced” to read is the best way turn a fun event into a yucky obligation.

-Update post! I personally will do a post for each Saturday in August but that’s just me. You can update once a week, every other week or once for the whole darn event. This update can be in the form of a blog/tumblr post, vlog, link to your “ARC August 2015″ shelf or even an instagram pic! I want to make this as easy and low pressure as possible for you.



   I don't have a lot of ARCs I haven't actually read yet, but I thought I'd still participate with the ones that I have! 


My ARCs:


The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow


Release Date: September 22nd, 2015
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Series: The Scorpion Rules, #1


Description from GoodReads:


   A world battered by climate shift and war turns to an ancient method of keeping peace: the exchange of hostages. The Children of Peace - sons and daughters of kings and presidents and generals - are raised together in small, isolated schools called Preceptures. There, they learn history and political theory, and are taught to gracefully accept what may well be their fate: to die if their countries declare war.

   Greta Gustafsen Stuart, Duchess of Halifax and Crown Princess of the Pan-Polar Confederation, is the pride of the North American Prefecture. Learned and disciplined, Greta is proud of her role in keeping the global peace, even though, with her country controlling two-thirds of the world’s most war-worthy resource — water — she has little chance of reaching adulthood alive. 

   Enter Elián Palnik, the Prefecture’s newest hostage and biggest problem. Greta’s world begins to tilt the moment she sees Elián dragged into the school in chains. The Prefecture’s insidious surveillance, its small punishments and rewards, can make no dent in Elián, who is not interested in dignity and tradition, and doesn’t even accept the right of the UN to keep hostages. 

   What will happen to Elián and Greta as their two nations inch closer to war?


Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff


Release Date: October 20th, 2015
Publisher: Knof Books for Young Readers
Series: The Illuminae Files, #1


Description from GoodReads:


   This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

   This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

   The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

   But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

   Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.


Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto


Release Date: August 26th, 2014
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Series: The Ghost House Saga, #1


Description from GoodReads:


   After the loss of her mother, Chloe Kennedy starts seeing the ghosts that haunted her as a young girl again. Spending time at her grandmother's country estate in the south of England is her chance to get away from her grief and the spirits that haunt her. Until she meets a mysterious stranger…

   Alexander Reade is 157 years dead, with secrets darker than the lake surrounding Grange Hall and a lifelike presence that draws Chloe more strongly than any ghost before. But the bond between them awakens the vengeful spirit of Alexander's past love, Isobel. And she will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who threatens to take him from her.

   To stop Isobel, Chloe must push her developing abilities to their most dangerous limits, even if it means losing Alex forever… and giving the hungry dead a chance to claim her for their own.


- Any other ARCs I receive this month for review


   It's not a bad list if I do say so myself. At the end of the month I'll update you with a post about my process and thoughts on these ARCs!


   How about you? Are you participating in ARC August? What ARCs do you plan on reading?



Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (4)


Ghost House

Author: Alexandra Adornetto
The Ghost House Saga
Expected: August 26th, 2014
Harlequin Teen


Description from GoodReads:


   After the loss of her mother, Chloe Kennedy starts seeing the ghosts that haunted her as a young girl again. Spending time at her grandmother's country estate in the south of England is her chance to get away from her grief and the spirits that haunt her. Until she meets a mysterious stranger…

   Alexander Reade is 157 years dead, with secrets darker than the lake surrounding Grange Hall and a lifelike presence that draws Chloe more strongly than any ghost before. But the bond between them awakens the vengeful spirit of Alexander's past love, Isobel. And she will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who threatens to take him from her.

   To stop Isobel, Chloe must push her developing abilities to their most dangerous limits, even if it means losing Alex forever… and giving the hungry dead a chance to claim her for their own.


Why I Want It:


   I loved Alexandra's previous YA series Halo,  so hearing about her new series I just have to get my hands on a copy! Plus who doesn't love a ghost story?


Why You Should Want It:


   As I said, GHOSTS. Alexandra just knows how to write a romance, so romance + ghosts? This book is going to be a must have! 


That's my Waiting on Wednesday for this week! Will you be picking up your copy at the end of August? What are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments!(: