Review: Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff

The Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff

Published: September 6th, 2011
Age: YA Paranormal
Pages: 302
Acquired: Purchased from Barnes & Noble
Format: Paperback
Overall:

Summary: Is life offering fewer and fewer options? Then join the dead.
When Annelise meets dark and seductive Ronan, he promises her a new life-if she has the courage to chance the unknown. Now, she's whisked away to a mysterious island and pitted against other female recruits to become a Watcher-girls who are partnered with vampires and assist them in their missions. To survive and become a Watcher, Annelise has to beat out every other girl, but she's determined to do so, because to fail doesn't mean dishonor-it means death.

My thoughts:
When we're first introduced to Annelise, aka Drew, she's packing up, ready to leave for college. Ready to leave her abusive father and crazy step mother. She makes it to the school, expecting to be accepted immediately. Why not? She's a genius (we're told this over and over and over and over throughout), she's graduated early (top of her class), is fluent in multiple languages, and she needs this. Desperately. But when a mishap in the computers happens she's left to fend for herself. Until the handsome Ronan takes her hand and whisks her away to a far away island. Literally.
My first thought was, why the hell would anyone hop on a plane to go to a place they've never been with a guy they don't know with absolutely no details about where it is. But I guess no matter how smart you are, you still end up doing dumb things.
When Annelise, Ronan and the two other girls on the plane land on Eyja næturinnar--Isle of Night--they stand in a massive group of nothing but girls. Their they're told they will go through a severe training to be Watchers for vampires. Though Annelise is shocked, she takes it in stride and goes with the flow.
I've read that some compare this to the Vampire Academy series and The Hunger Games. I haven't read the VA series and I did not like THG. Though, I see the comparison. These girls are expected to be at the top of their game--no matter what they have to stay there; strength, knowledge, and avoid being killed.
There is little romance and a lot of cat fights and action in this, with the occasional cutie when the girls meet the boys there for vampire training. But mainly, just nasty and vicious girls. Like Annelise's psycho (read: pyromaniac) roommate, Lilac.
When the time comes to do a mock challenge, it proves to be very real when weapons come to play and death takes some of the girls.
With a world of [creepy but very good looking] vampires, draugs, girls out to get you, sexy and elusive Tracers, cure vampire boys in training and a possibility for anything to happen, Drew must stay on her toes to stay alive and keep the two friends she's managed to acquire on the Isle of Night.
(While reading this, I couldn't help but picture Amanda Seyfried as Annelise. Her character in Mean Girls meets her character in GONE.)

Plot:
Characters: ½
Ending:
Writing:
Cover:

Author Info:

Veronica Wolff is an award-winning, bestselling author with a soft spot for kilts, mountains, beaches, and vampires. Not necessarily at the same time. She lived everywhere from Texas, to Hawaii, to India, before finally settling in Northern California, where she lives with her husband, two kids, one insane rescue dog, one angelic rescue dog, the gentlest cat ever, and a snake whose days are numbered.

Find more on Veronica on her: website | twitter | facebook | goodreads

Teaser Tuesday (005)

The Long Way Home (The Homelanders #2) by Andrew Klavan
February 2nd, 2010 | YA Contemporary

But when the air suddenly filled with the screaming sirens, when the oncoming night suddenly burned red and blue with the cruisers' lights, everyone froze in place, startled. Mustache-Man. Blockhead. Blond Killer. The shadows all around. Everyone froze.
Everyone but me.
-pg. 33 

I loved the first book. Hopefully this one is just as good!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Yay, it's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.

Recently Finished:

• Vampire's Kiss (The Watchers #2) by Veronica Wolff
- Review coming soon. This may turn out to be a favorite series of mine!

Currently Reading:

• The Long Way Home (The Homelanders #2) by Andrew Klavan
- Loved the first book. This one will probably be just as good and fast-paced!

Up Next:

• Angelfall by Susan Ee
- I've had this book on Kindle for quite awhile but never bothered really reading it. But it'd be perfect for my personal March challenge.
• Divergent by Veronica Rolf
- I've tried reading this before, but couldn't really get into it. So I'm giving it another go! ['March' of Dystopians]

Waiting on Wednesday (015) - Sweet Evil

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Expected Publication: May 1st, 2012 | HarperTeen
Pages: 464
Genre: YA Paranormal (Angels & demons)

Summary: What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Why I'm excited:
I've heard great things about this book! It's obviously a paranormal book, but I'm not sure if it's possibly dystopian as well.
I haven't read a good angel/demon book in a long time. (You can enter to win the book on goodreads. [click the title of the book at the top])

Tune in Tuesday (004)

This is "Tune in Tuesday" hosted by Ginger at GReads. I'll feature a song with a music video I absolutely love and think you should listen too!

My pickings are always random, as I listen to a multitude of different musical styles. This song isn't new, the full album came out in 2009. I recently [re]found this song and fell back in love with it. It's one that I start singing along and feel better. It's not a very happy song, but I love it anyway. I'm not the biggest fan of this music video.
Here it is:



One EskimO - Kandi



Tell me what you think, and link your Tune in Tuesday in the comments! :)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Yay, it's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.

Recently Finished:

• Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie (review here)
- Such an adorable and sexy book. A fun read for my Contemporary February challenge!
• Isle of Night (The Watchers #1) by Veronica Wolff
- I did not expect this book to be sooo good!! It'll be a while before I post my review. (*note: it may be a bit rave-y!)

Currently Reading:

• Vampire's Kiss (The Watchers #2) by Veronica Wolff
- Loved the first book, can't wait to finish this one!!

Up Next:

• The Long Way Home (The Homelanders #2) by Andrew Klavan
- The first book was so fast paced, excited for this one.
• Lola And The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
- I hope this book is better than her first one. Wasn't a big fan of it.
• One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt
- Two-way Street was a really good book, hoping this one by her is just as good!



What's on your Monday list? Link it in the comments below!

REVIEW: Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie

Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie
Published: March, 1995
Age: Adult Contemporary
Pages: 298
Acquired: Dee from Good Choice Reading
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Overall: ½

Summary: Dumped by her boyfriend and demoted from WBBB's prime-time spot, radio producer Allie McGuffey has nowhere to go but up. She plans to make her comeback by turning temporary DJ Charlie Tenniel into a household name. And if he's willing to help her cure her breakup blues with a rebound fling, that's an added bonus.
Charlie just wants to kick back, play good tunes and eat Chinese food. He's not interested in becoming famous. But he is interested in Allie. And after all, what harm in a little chemistry between friends?
But suddenly their one-night stand has become a four-week addiction. Night after night on the airwaves, his voice seduces her. . .and all the other women in town. He's a hit. It looks as if Charlie's solved all Allie's problems. . .except one. What is she going to do when he leaves?

I read this book for my personal "Contemporary February" challenge, and I'm really glad I did. This book is not for you to think too hard. Don't expect to be motivated to go out and change the world. And you won't have these words resonate with you like you've just read the worlds best fiction. No. This is simply a lovey-dovey kind of book that makes you giggle, blush and just overall feel good. And that's just one thing I love about contemporary books!
When we meet Allie she's at the top of her radio producing career, until her skeezy boyfriend, Mark, dumps her, without any real reason why. And with that, she is no longer producing his very successful show and is given a new guy at a new time. This is not what Allie wanted to hear, but with her head held high, she perseveres.
But of course, as her luck has it, she runs into Charlie in the most unfortunate and kind of embarrassing way. Luckily Charlie is a good guy and takes this meeting in stride, going along with Allie's shenanigans and despising Mark upon meeting him. Just as Allie wants. And what else does she want but a one-night stand to help her get over Mark.
When you're producing a late-night show for the guy who happens to be staying with you and you may have had a fabulous one-night stand with...things are not going to be easy.
And so, the fun ensues!
I loved how serious, funny and real Charlie was. The way Allie describes him, didn't make him seem physically attractive to me per se, but  it made him no less interesting and yummy in general.  The love scenes in this book are sweet and hot without being overly descriptive! I never felt like I had to hide in a room alone because of it, but it definitely wasn't something I'd read aloud around kids. ^_^"
The way Mark is was...hilarious, he was a pathetic guy with nothing but his career in mind and the childish games he played kept me laughing.
This is definitely a quick and fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I will be checking out more of Jennifer Crusie's work, especially her newer books.

Plot:
Characters:
Ending:
Writing: ½
Cover: (I have this cover)

Author Info:
Jennifer Crusie was born in Wapakoneta, a small Ohio town on the banks of the Auglaize River. She graduated from Wapakoneta High School and earned her bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in Art Education. She married in 1971 and lived briefly in Wichita Falls until her Air Force husband was transferred to Dayton, Ohio. Her solo novels continue to explore women’s journeys, especially issues dealing with relationships, friendships, community, and creativity, and her collaborations give her the opportunity to explore those same things in real life. She is a very fortunate woman, and she knows it.
Find more on Jenny on her: website & facebook