Book Review: Forsaken By Jana Oliver

(2 1/2 Stars)

Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself—and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on...

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get—even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart—and her life?

Cover Opinion: I gotta admit, the cover made me want to read it, it was gloomy and a bit gothic in design, very attractive for my tastes, and those blue eyes, aaahhh! It's like they're taunting you: Read me!! Well, I'm a sucker for cute covers and I learned that the hard way, but at least it didn't disappoint me that much. O.o

Book Review: It is pretty unique, and it really piqued my interest, I haven't encountered a story about demon trappers, until now.
So here's the thing, Riley is the daughter of one of the most famous trappers of their guild, she is constantly trying to impress the guild masters(or whatever they call them) so that she would be a licensed trapper, but spawns from hell, kept on coming and they all have a common target, and that's Riley. She then tries to survive after the trials that kept going on her way, and she finds herself cooperating with two guys who pisses her off, one who broke her heart, and the other, who kept trying to make her look false so that she would fail.

*sigh* what a rather difficult life for Riley Blackthorne, I felt sorry for her, her life was so bad, and what's more interesting? She fights Lucifer's demons. Brave girl, I don't think I can handle that much drama, I think I'd cry if someone or something pissed me off like that. (Good thing I'm normal). *sigh* another sigh because Riley is yet again, another girl who is blind about love, Beck loves her!!! It's practically obvious, he wouldn't stay there any longer if he doesn't have feelings for her. Gawd! Suuuuuure the guy had great respect for the old man, ssuuuuuuuuuurrrrreeeee he's indebted to Paul, BUT WHO CARES! If a guy wants to leave, he'll leave, without hesitation, he already cares for her, but she's too blind to see that, she sooo bitter about the past, she's actually lucky that someone's looking after her like Beck does.

*groan* but worst of all, Beck, the should-be, responsible, and awesome trapper, is a drunk hazard. Goodness some of the characters here were plain annoying. One guy was a goody too shoes boyfriend who sometimes thinks of her as temptation, the other one is a coward best friend, who couldn't even admit face-to-face that she likes Riley, and worst of all, the mysterious guy who kept saving Riley's life.

I hate? love? like it? I'm not really sure, It's very good, the action scenes were full of adrenaline, and the demons they encounter were a bit scary (I'm not even sure if they're in the bible), it's not something that everyone would appreciate (I know for sure, that I'm not gonna read the next part of the series), but it was fun while it lasted.

Book Review: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

(2 stars)

Rogerson Biscoe, with his green eyes and dark curly hair, is absolutely seductive. Before long, sixteen-year-old Caitlin finds herself under his spell. And when he starts to abuse her, she finds she's in too deep to get herself out...

Well, a story of a masochistic girlfriend is refreshing

This is quite exciting, I never read this kind of book before, I didn't know what to expect, it was a little awkward to read, 'cuz it deals with a lot of issues that teens usually encounter.

The book was about Caitlin who had her life destroyed when her sister Cass runs away from home, Caitlin has always been the shadow of her sister Cass, with her sister's runaway her parents became more attentive when it comes to her, she's neutral about it, but she still feels alone, then she met Rogerson who became her friend, lover, tyrant and nightmare.

First of all, what kind of parents are they! Yes, the situation is a distressful, but Caitlin doesn't deserve this kind of guardianship. Here and then, I officially hate Caitlin's parents. They were waaaay to pushy and their trying to make this kind of figure were they're a perfect family was just gawdammed awful.

Then tatatadaaaa! Caitlin meets Rogerson who in book standards was hot [but I think he looks like a jock who got addicted to online games plus eyebags], she got really attached to Rogerson, and he to her. But this is an extraordinary novel, so of course you have to expect the unexpected, he's a sadist, and he constantly hurts Caitlin, either he slaps her, or hits her, when she's late for their meeting or she just did something wrong.

STUPID CAITLIN, I, a woman of my own virtue claims that every girl has the right mind to be angry or feel violated because of what Rogerson does. HE HITS HER! What kind of thinking is she doing?! She's so hungry for attention that she tolarates him hitting her? Screw it!! She was sooo irritating, I wanted shake some sense into her.

Rogerson was a control freak, he wants her always alone, ALWAYS, and whenever she's late for their date, he just hurts her, then he kisses her then says he loves her. What arse!

It was painstakingly awful to read the book, because somewhere deep in your head, you know it's true. Somewhere out there in the world, many women are getting hurt and consents it. I don't know why they accept it, it feel inhuman for me to hurt someone to that extent.

But despite the real-horrifying attributes in the novel, I kept reading and boy oh boy did I learn.

Eventually Caitlin gets to her senses[GO GIRL, FINALLY!] but fear always takes her back, and I don't blame her, I can't even think of getting late if my boyfriend will hit me in the end, what more if she tries to break up with him, and in the end she still can't say what happened, and her neighbor was the one who found out.

Freaky, and of course her parents got a hell of a surprise, but at least they didn't rant to her about it. She was sent to a institution to help her mend her 'emotional wounds', and she gets well... her friend is back... her parents became more close to her... and Rogerson was gone... and Cass came back.

I liked it but it took me to the edge, and I don't think I'll be comfortable reading something like this again... yet anyway and overall I think Cass was a selfish beeyach, 'cuz she left her family alone and made her sister destroy her life because of what she wanted to do.

It told me good lessons that I might encounter[but I hope not], it was an eye-opener, and I salute Sarah Dessen, she made a good book. [but i'm still not reading something like this again, yet]

My Book Blog

Hello, I'm Jules and this is my official book blog. I started to love books when I was 14, I'm willing to read any kind of book, but I like YA novels better. I have another blog site on tumblr (http://faith29santos.tumblr.com) Hope you will love my blog. XOXO Jules