"Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.
Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true."
It's a good title. Where the Stars Still Shine is actually a pretty title. I like the sound of that. However, there isn't a single mention about stars (or at least, not that I remember).
Anyway, Callie is Greek and from a very rich family. However, her mother has taken her, or kidnapped, her, because Callie's father was thought to be suing Callie's mother for full custody. Anyway, it's a long story, similar to some other stories I read. This remind me most of that story/book with a kidnapped girl who had been raped and killed a man in self-defense. That was a book called... I just can't remember it. Anyway if you liked that book (which I can't recall for the good of my life), then you'll like this book. Gosh, that sounds so stupid. I just need to remember that book title. Okay, I found the title (thank you Goodreads!). The title: If You Find Me. It's written by Emily Murdoch.
Anyway, there's noticeable similarities to this book and If You Find Me (which I thought was great!). However, I think Where the Stars Still Shine is a tad better. Let me break this book down for you (without spoilers. Well, I'll try).
The chemistry between the guy and Callie is so much better than If You Find Me's little romance. Screw those two. I love Where the Stars Still Shine. Technically, Callie is enamoured with her boyfriend, who is her uncle by marriage. He's twenty-one, about to be twenty-two, or somewhere along the lines. Still, they aren't related by blood, so that's okay. Well, almost okay, but it does get sort of funny (sorry, Callie). Besides, how Trish Doller wrote it made it seem more real. The most 3D character of the entire book is probably that guy, whose name I can't even remember. (Sorry. But unless you're Peeta Mellark, I won't remember you. Your name isn't repeated into my head for a month straight. Thank you, Hunger Games the movie).
So there's no incest. What else should I mention? Ah! The plot. For most of the plot, Callie struggles between her identity. She tries to figure out where she truly belongs. She wants to go back to somewhere familiar, yet also is in love with the possible future (with boyfriend and family). She's brilliant at telling lies. However, it does certainly get interesting when she gets caught.
The scars of the past. Character development for Callie and that guy (her uncle by marriage) are great, but some things are even better. Callie's past is definitely some fine point-worthy moments. That guy (yeah, that's his name) and his mother's relationship is even better. But the best relationship is Callie and her mother. Callie learns to let her mother go. Callie's mother learns that she really isn't the best parent for her beloved daughter. Okay, that's enough spoilers.
Rating: Five out of Five
"Sometimes it takes getting hit with a hockey puck to help you see what's good for you! Carolyn Mackler is back - and V is off on a solo road trip - in this funny, poignant follow-up to VEGAN VIRGIN VALENTINE.
V Valentine is the queen of meaningless hookups. Ever since her mom dumped her with her grandparents, she has bounced from guy to guy. But in the spring of senior year, a fateful hockey puck lands her in the lap of Sam Almond. Right from the start, things with Sam are different. V is terrified to admit it, but this might be meaningful after all. On the afternoon of graduation, V receives some shocking news. Later, at a party, she makes an irreversible mistake and risks losing Sam forever. When her mom invites her to Texas, V embarks on a cross-country road trip with the hopes of putting two thousand miles between herself, Sam, and the wreckage of that night. With her trademark blend of humor and compassion, Carolyn Mackler takes readers on an unforgettable ride of missed exits, misadventures, and the kind of epiphanies that come only when you're on a route you've never taken before."
I'll admit it's been awhile since I wrote anything on my blog. In fact, the thing I wrote was a review for an Amy Plum book. Anyway, now I'm moving on to Guyaholic which is only about a hundred and twenty pages. It's a rather short book that anyone can read during bathroom break. On second thought, don't read it during a bathroom break. That's disgusting. Along with disturbing. I definitely won't touch any of your books.
Okay, the main character, V, is caught monologuing. Well, most of the time, she's complaining about her girl problems and whatever. I learned nothing about this book other than the fact about monologuing. The only fact I learned about monologuing: Never get caught doing it for a chapter or more. It gets too boring. Basically, the only way the character development gets moved forward is by monologuing. Anytime there's dialogue is like a sheep among wolves. (I'm referring wolves as monologues).
This is going to be a fairly short review. I'm too tired to think about anything, especially after watching Agent Ward (Agents of Shield) kill Agent Hand and the two guards in cold blood. I can't believe he's HYDRA agent. Anyway, I have to sleep on it. Ahhh! Everything is so messed up in my review. I feel like I'm dizzy or something. It's midnight and I need to sleep. I have class tomorrow. Yawn, yawn.
The only big topic this book teaches is that sleeping with a lot of guys is never a good idea. I mean, one man and one woman is already complicated enough. Suddenly, this author decides, hey! Why not add a bunch more of guys to this book? That's when it gets really complicated.
The only thing I will probably remember is how inappropriate this book is. And monologues. Especially monologues. I thought Shakespeare was already enough. Of course, it isn't. And how big of a hooker (well, she might as well be) V is.
Short book. Boring plot that's not worth mentioning at all. Everything is boring. No car trip with boy. Just car trip with monologues. Thank you, goodbye. Night, night.
Rating: One out of Five
"I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.
Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.
It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.
After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?"
It's an awesome ending to this trilogy. If I Should Die is a much better ending (points knocked off for little sentimental thoughts and feelings when a character died) than Twilight (yes, I'm still comparing to Twilight; it's so fun doing this). If I Should Die is the last and final book of this trilogy (as I mentioned before, so now I'm just repeating myself). Moving on, I should talk about the good and bad of If I Should Die.
The Good: (Oh, look. I'm breaking this down to two categories).
Kate is a high point in this book. She learns how to sacrifice (even though it's for Vincent, the love interest). She learns about Jules' love for her. Thankfully, she doesn't feel the same way, so there won't be a fourth book. However, she is sort of hallucinating Vincent's ghost. On the good side, it's real and she doesn't have to be in life or death situations to see him. On that bad side, there's no bad things. It's a better love story than Twilight.
The plot (oh wait, there's even a plot in If I Should Die) is legendary. We jump cities, from Paris to New York to Paris again. Lots of things happen, but most of the pushing only comes from that medicine guy (sorry, don't know what else to name him. Guy of knowledge doesn't sound good either), Kate, and Vincent. Still, at least it has a plot. That's a plus.
Deaths (And I'm even putting this in the "Good" section). At the end of any action or fantasy series, there's always a good amount of deaths. The more emotion it invokes, the better. Charles doesn't die, so we don't care. Just kidding. We do care who dies or lives. One important member of Vincent's kindred is going to die. I'm not going to explain who, but someone is going to die. Then there are a few friends of Vincent who are also going to die. BTW, Vincent doesn't count. Neither does Kate. Vincent died in the last novel. Kate is reborn. I should clarify myself. I mean, permanently dead. Sorry, readers, there's a bit of a confusion there.
Amy Plum's writing and storytelling is addicting. I want to read more of her books! Please, more Vincent and Kate would be good. I don't care if you put one more inside joke about vampires, just a little more of those two lovebirds!
The Bad:
Honestly, I can't really remember the bads of this book. Actually, I think I did a very bad job of categorizing the bads and the goods. Next time, I won't do that.
Anyway, I think this is an amazing trilogy. Definitely worth rereading.
Rating: Five out of Five
"Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.
As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.
In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series."
Wow! This is good. Okay, I mentioned zombies, and a whole bunch of creepy people. There's no other supernatural crap (but hinted at) in this book. Well, wherever this book goes, I hope it gets very interesting.
Until I Die is practically calling for Kate's death. I mean, I want her to die so she could become a Reverent and join Vincent in happily forever after. Of course, we have one more book to go, so it's not over yet. But obviously, it will get there. Eventually, she will become a Revenant. If Kate doesn't become one, then there's the second and second best option for her life. That is to stay with Vincent (a hundred plus year old man, but looks like seventeen and still age until he is killed) and live with him for the rest of her short life.
It gets more emotional. There's tears cried; hope lost and a bunch of other things. Whatever. It's still a better story than Twilight. Heck, almost everything is better than Twilight. Until I Die is real while Twilight is sort of flabby at most. But Until I Die is slowly curving it's own path to somewhere else. Magic is a factor in this world. Well, rituals, I guess. Anyway, more of the mystery and secrets behind the Revenant is revealed. Let me just say that it gets very interesting. Very interesting.
Vincent becomes a saint. Well, sort of like a saint. He sacrifices himself and dies, so he is sort of like a saint, right? Anyway, by the end of Until I Die, he is a saint. I mean, a ghost or a spirit. Ahh! I can't get into too much details. I'm already spilling a lot.
Kate becomes very good with a sword. Well, not as good compared to the other Revenant, but still good enough. One day, I predict that she will be awesome. Unfortunately, we aren't there yet. But I can feel it! Anyway, in Until I Die, we see that she doesn't have to be around Vincent all the time. Instead she hangs out with another girl and actually seems to like her. That proves the theory that Kate is more social than the wooden and marble statue Bella is.
What happens in the end won't stay in the end. That's because something so big happens in the end that you have to read the next book. Of course, I'm not revealing any spoilers. Read it yourself, if you want it so bad. Anyway, the ending is such a good ending. I just wish that Kate...actually, no. She's no Bella, so she's fine. I can't wait to finish the next book!
Rating: Five out of Five
"In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.
When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.
Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again."
Die For Me draws parallels from Twilight. I mean, there's a lot of similarities between this book and the dreadful book written by Meyer. Still, I think Die For Me is somewhat of an improvement from Twilight, because Twilight is simply stupid. Although it's very good in letting the reader into the its Twilight-ish world. It's annoying how the author pulls some inside joke and reference to Twilight.
Some similarities include the love interest's stalking. Well, they both stalk. At least Vincent draws a line to not trespass Kate's home or room. Famously, Edward Cullen watches her sleep while Bella has no clue about the intruder. Oh, shall I mentioned that Vincent's kindred stalk Kate too. Well, look out for her is a better and friendly/kinder phrase. Anyway, Vincent is a supernatural creature (zombie) while Edward is also one (vampire). Even some of the family members are quite similar to the Cullens. For example, Charlotte is identical to Alice. Charles is Jasper. Jules is Jacob (the werewolf, but Jule is still a zombie). Jean-something (let's call him JB) is Carlisle. Gaspard and Jeanne is Esme. But of course, it's not totally identical. There's no relationships between most of the characters. Charles and Charlotte are twins. Jeanne is not supernatural; she's human. And she's not in love with JB, but the other one might be.
Yeah, it is sort of complicated. But other than the differences in setting and character, Die For Me and Twilight have a lot of similarities. You can't deny them.
Kate is no Bella. (In a sense, I may add). She did see a bunch of weird things, like Bella. But at least she was smart enough to find something substantial. (Pictures of Vincent and his family years before). Increasing and noticeably stubborn, she has a high disregard for her life. Only caring for others, she watches out for them (her sister). But like Bella, she wants to spend all of her time with the Undead (Vincent and his family). The only human she is mostly around is Jeanne, JB's housekeeper. That is if you don't count Georgia, who is Kate's sister. So technically, Kate is not an island surrounded by a bunch of Undead people.
Speaking of the Undead, they aren't really Undead. They are more like Revenants. Basically, they are forced to be killed to save other people's lives. They don't have to die to save another, but sometimes that happens. It's a bit complicated, but the author explained in a such a good way that was so easy to understand.
Unlike Meyer, Amy Plum doesn't slink away whenever there's a fight scene coming up. Towards the end of the book, there's a major battle between someone and Kate/Vincent. Nevertheless, it gets quite complicated.
Rating: Four out of Five (for being better than Twilight)
