Review of Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

I liked the time jumps in this book, then to now.  It was so much better than just telling Lena's story in a linear fashion.  And while it was predictable what happened with Julian and a certain other character at the end, that doesn't mean I don't want to run out and get the last book now!

There are a lot of loose ends that will hopefully get tied up in Requiem.  I'm still on the fence as to how I feel about Raven and Tack, after knowing they put Lena through that on purpose.  Did they really not trust her??  And what will happen with Julian if his cancer returns?

Once I saw the last chapter encompassed 60+ pages, I couldn't stop reading.  I think Oliver's writing is beautiful and poetic yet again.  She can capture a moment with the best authors.  In this world, the fleeting moments are all these characters have...

Review on Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

I liked this book.  It certainly had its good moments, and Franny is a wonderful protagonist.  However, it felt a little forced at times, like it was trying too hard.  Franny's "relationships" were questionable.  She, like a lot of us, couldn't see what was right in front of her.  I'm kind of glad everything didn't end too neatly, but I was very happy that she finally seemed to get her big break.  I love the title, and Franny's quirks.  I didn't feel that the other characters were very developed, even her best friend.  I liked spending time in Franny's world, but I'm not aching that I'm finished.

I read it because it was by Lauren Graham, and I'm guessing a lot of people would say the same.

Review on The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter

I liked this collection of stories much better than book 2 in the series!  Book one I found to be somewhere in the middle.  The stories explain a lot -- it probably would have been better to read them after the first book.  Finally I understand all the background Carter has created and all the baggage these gods and goddesses carry with them.  The rivalries and battle lines are much more clear.  I still don't know if I want to read the third book.  If I do read it, it won't be because of Kate.  It'll be because I want to know how things turn out for Henry.  He is by far the most interesting character.

Review on Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I wasn't so sure about this book, honestly, until about halfway through.  I loved Before I Fall, so I knew I had to give Oliver's 2nd book a chance.  She dazzled me again, I'm happy to say!

Her writing is so beautiful and moving.  I feel like I made the transition with Lena from ignorance to knowing.  In Lena's world, love is a disease that humans have learned to eradicate with a procedure administered on a person's 18th birthday.  Lena has been raised by her aunt and uncle because her mother had the disease and killed herself when Lena was just 8.  Lena's cousin also was taken away (she was a "resistor"), so her children Grace and Jenny also live in the same house.  Everyone views Lean's family as tainted.

In the beginning, Lena counts down to her procedure, but that all changes once her evaluation is messed up because of a protest.  Good thing too, because she was actually giving real responses that the evaluators weren't liking.  That's also the moment she first sees Alex.

For awhile, not much changes.  But then she goes to find her friend Hana at an illegal party and hears music that isn't "allowed". It changes her, and of course, she find Alex there as well.  Later, she tries to save Hana and Alex during a raid night, and though she ends up injured, she also begins to fall in love.  Love, the forbidden word in a world where Romeo and Juliet is a cautionary tale instead of a tragic love story.

During the brief weeks that Alex and Lena steal time to be together, my heart broke for them.  You just know that something horrible will prevent them escaping.  When they finally do make their plans to escape to the Wilds, where Alex comes from (only after Lena learns something horrific about her mother), they are caught.  The ending leaves you wondering what happened to one character, while another makes it over the fence.  Such a compelling read once it got going!