Review: Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies #1) by Isaac Marion

Title: Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies #1)
Author: Isaac Marion
Published: April 26th 2012
Publisher: Atria
My rating: 4 stars!

R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse. Just dreams.

After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a burst of vibrant color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that R lives in. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world.

Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, Warm Bodies is about being alive, being dead and the blurry line in between.

Now that I've read this I kinda wanna slap myself for reading this just recently even though I have seen this a lot of times in goodreads for as long time with all its number of glowing reviews. And it was all because I thought it was corny and it just felt a little 'meh' on me - I mean a zombie and a teenage girl? Eww, right? Only until I realized that the movie adaptation will be out this month (and saw a zombie Nicholas Hoult in action) did I decide to finally give this book a try.

And boy, oh boy, did I want to drop on my knees and beg some forgiveness for being too judgmental. Because this book has just flat-out and completely proven me wrong! I mean, yes there were still those gory/weird moments and some parts where I don't know if I should take it seriously or just laugh it out but what I loved was that Marion was also able to make it into a very sweet, adorable and surprisingly very poignant and moving story. I have to admit, I did shed some tears while I was reading this. 

Marion's writing was what I enjoyed so much about this book. He wrote R's perspective in such a way that you would instantly connect and understand him. Which is saying a lot since he wrote a guy's pov and not just some guy but a guy zombie's pov. He wrote it so effectively and his prose so beautifully and lovely that compelled me to really adore and appreciate R's character despite the weirdness and absurdity of the situation.

More than anything else, I loved the underlying yet very powerful and thought-provoking poignant messages about hope, love, change and humanity in this book. It was something I wasn't expecting when I started this but it was what I had greatly appreciated about this book in the end. I loved how Marion made us delve deeper into the story and see the more important and bigger values and issues in it.

Blog Tour: Touch of Death by Kelly Kashway (Review + Giveaway)

Title: Touch of Death (Touch of Death #1)
Author: Kelly Hashway
Expected Publication: January 15th 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
My rating: 3.5 stars

Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Touch of Death was a fun and quick read. It was easy to get with the flow of the story and with the characters and understand what was really happening. It offered interesting points especially in mythology plus adding some twist about zombies. I actually sped through this! However, comes with its fast-paced writing was the feel that everything was happening in a rush. Thus also makings some part predictable and a little unconvincing. 

The main character, Jodi Marshall, was a character that is easy to like. She played a very special and powerful character in the story however I couldn't seem to find some distinctive trait and quality in her that would have compelled me to really really like her and admire her character. Making her a little bland for my taste. Having said that she wasn't really a bad case of a main character. She has good qualities and principle but nothing really powerful or unique.

Alex, the love interest, started as a very intriguing character. I liked the bad boy and wicked side he'd shown in the beginning. I would have loved it even more if it hadn't been that toned down that much around the middle of the book when he and Jodi are finally learning and knowing each other. Still he's probable my most favorite character in this story. 

I liked how Hashway combined the idea of Mythology and zombies. Adding to that, the mythological side wasn't really that conventional since it put one of the most known villains in the mythology on the good side. The only problem I had was that it felt rushed and quite predictable. I wouldn't have mind it being a little longer if it would make everything more credible and thrilling.

Overall, Touch of Death is a pretty entertaining and interesting read albeit a little lacking with some elements that might have made it even better. Still, I really did enjoy the overall. If you're looking for a fun, quick and unique paranormal read but doesn't have that too complex and mind-boggling world and plot, this is the right book for you.

Thank you Spencer Hill Press for providing me a copy of this book.

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Review: Taste by Kat Evangelista

Title: Tase
Author: Kat Evangelista
Published: April 30th 2012
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
My rating: 3.75 stars

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans. When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn't realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Well, this book was a pleasant surprise for me. I wasn't expecting that much on this one and to be honest I had some doubt I'd end up really enjoying it. But I'm pleased to report that this book is actually a very interesting one. It might not have instantly caught my interest during the first parts but as I went deeper to the story I realized that it had eventually intrigued me. The characters and the world Kat created were indeed a very unique and fantastic and I'm happy to say that I enjoyed reading this book.

I first thought this was a vampire book thus explaining my doubt. I was surprised when the world was finally described and explained that I realized how interesting and fascinating it was. It wasn't really a vampire world but a world of "Zhyamvys" or "zombies" as we humans, according to the book, bastartized it. It was rather a fascinating idea - good looking zombies, smart and civilized than just the brain eater we always thought of. It was quite captivating and absorbing to explore this unique world Kat created.

Phoenix, our main character discovered the existence of the Zhamvys when she accidentally overslept in the library of her school pass the curfew. Her curiosity still brought her to discover more of the world of Zhamvy and soon found herself helping some of them in this dangerous secret that might kill this ancient civilization that lived underneath her school.I didn't get well with Phoenix right away. I was actually pretty annoyed with her and some of her actions. Her curiosity I understand but she was impatient and reckless and although those could be appealing attributes on some characters, it felt quite annoying on her. Although as the story went on I saw parts of her that is good and kind and impressive, like when she agreed to help Dray to look for a cure for his people because she understood how it felt not to able to do anything to someone you love. She agreed even if it was dangerous and did extreme sacrifices. In the end, I think she did grow on me. 

Now onto the other main character and the love interest, Demitri. Well, there's a reason why I still haven't read Vampire Academy, Wanderlove and why I didn't continue the Faeriewalker series. 

Long-haired guys. 

I know, I know. Shallow it is. Don't get angry at me but they were just never my type and it turns me off quite majorly whenever I encounter one. However, after reading this I realized that it wasn't really that hard to imagine them to be short-haired. Lol! Seriously, that's the only way I know how I'll be able to continue reading this and still really like it. So in the end, I  was actually able to like Demitri genuinely. And yes, I also did think he was sexy. 

Although I liked the overall, I was a little disappointed with the ending. It felt kinda rush, even some other parts of the book but it was the ending that I wish had been elaborated more. Nonetheless, I think this is a pretty great debut novel and really fantastic for a one-shot paranormal book albeit a little formulaic and predictable at times. I wouldn't mind if there will be a second book actually (or a companion book about Luca). I enjoyed this and I guess it's safe to recommend this.

Thank you Kat Evangelista for providing me a copy of this book!

Review: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

Title: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

Author: Lish McBride

Published: October 12th 2010

Publisher: Henry Colt and Company

Ready synopsis: Goodreads

Rating: 4.5 stars

This book is so much FUN! I love love love everything but most especially Samhain Corvus LaCroix! I tell you, I'm in love with this guy yeah, like I don't feel like that with most of the heroes I met. XD. Its like I met the guy version of Sophie Mercer (Hex Hall)! This dude made me all laughing from the first page to the last and even on worst situations. While this book offered lots of good humor it also gave a very good side of dark and paranormal stuffs. 

I love reading books with male protags but I tend to be really picky about them. But when I heard that this gave off the same aura as White Cat, which is one of my favorite series with male lead, it definitely caught my interest. I'm not sure about it though when I started reading it but when Sam started using his smart-mouth, oh boy, I realized I gonna love it big time. 

Sam's character is very appealing and admirable. I like how he talk about things and handle stuff, he knows who he is. Oh wait, no. He didn't know he's a necromancer before - more like he's honest about himself. He acts with no pretense and admits things he's capable of and what he's not. And most of all, he's smart-mouthed. His snide comments and witty comebacks had me all laughing out loud. His relationship with his friends - Ramon, Frank and Brooke - was also really adorable and funny. I love how much he cares for his love ones.

This is the book where you're gonna love almost all the characters in it. You'll definitely take notice with everyone even if they don't share much exposure. Ramon and Frank were loyal and very reliable friends. Brooke, I adore her so much! She's funny and definitely a strong character. Bridin, I thought when Sam met her she'll intimidate him but she didn't. She's actually sweet and very supportive but also a tough and brave character. Then Ashley too! I just really love that girl! Even the villain here, Douglas, is an interesting character.

The paranormal stuff is very entertaining and intriguing. I love the idea of hybrids, the were-hounds, the hybrid between werewolves and fey. I also think that what made Sam powerful is because he's also a hybrid between a witch and a necromancer. I'd love to discover more of these paranormal creatures and to see Sam's abilities develop on the next book. Oh yeah, and I'd like to see what's gonna happen between him and Brid! ^^

I highly recommend this book! This is a humorous and very enjoyable read with an interesting and amusing paranormal plot. I really had so much fun reading this! 

Review: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

Title: The Other Life

Author: Susanne Winnacker

Published: February 1st 2012

Publisher: Usborne

Read synopsis: Goodreads

Rating: 3.75 stars

I've always been a fan of zombies. Not that I'd loved them if they become real but I just like the thrill, excitement and nervousness they can make me feel. I've seen lots of zombie-themed movies and read some mangas of it. But I haven't really read any novel about it, I realized just after I finished reading this book (and I really wonder why I never thought of reading one. Hmm~). So basically, this is my first 'zombie' themed book and it went really well. Hurrah! It was good and I liked it. Though it may not be as gruesome and creepy as I had expected it was still a fun and enjoyable read. 

The Other Life has an exciting and interesting plot with really great and cool characters. I love Sherry's voice. I immediately saw that she's a strong and determined heroine. She never pretends that she's not afraid and definitely has fears but she's a loyal and determined person especially when it comes to her family and to other people she loves. Joshua, driven by the awful things that happened to her family, had become a really tough and brave person. He's also a very caring and thoughtful. And never think twice in helping other people. Whenever he could get someone to save he would always do it and I really admire that about him. 

The premise may not have been super original - invented a virus that had gone wrong, infected the whole city, the government or some big freakin' organization being behind it - it was still able to surprise me by some of its twist. I just thought it could have been more sinister. I was really expecting more of actions, chasing and fighting. I was waiting for something that would make my heart pound from excitement and nervousness and make me cringe in all its gruesomeness. Well, the story delivered enough, I just wanted more. lol! (Yeah, I have twisted sense of humor and I am proud of it! lol!) 

Anyway, it was still really a fascinating read and I'm very much curious on what's gonna happen next and how they will be facing those challenges. I hope the next book would be as good as this one or even better, more thrilling, gripping and heart-attack inducing