Book Review- Hunger

I just finished reading Hunger (Gone #2) by Michael Grant.

From Goodreads:

It's been three months since everyone under the age of fifteen became trapped in the bubble known as
the FAYZ.

Three months since all the adults disappeared. GONE.

Food ran out weeks ago. Everyone is starving, but no one wants to figure out a solution. And each day, more and more kids are evolving, developing supernatural abilities that set them apart from the kids without powers. Tension rises and chaos is descending upon the town. It's the normal kids against the mutants. Each kid is out for himself, and even the good ones turn murderous.

But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, begins calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them.

The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

I find this series so disturbing.  It almost haunts me.  I'm not sure why.  I mean, clearly its fiction.  But maybe it's because it has to do with this society that has to thrive without adults.  And all these kids are running around doing adult things while still being kids.  Or the monster that's really freaking creepy and I can't quite figure out.

I still can't say I love it.  The characters are still kinda distant to me.  And it takes me such a long time to get through a book.  But man, I'm hooked.  I want to know what's going to happen next, while hiding my eyes at the same time.  

Bring on the next book, Lies!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

*FTC Disclosure: I traded this book with a friend.

Book Review- The Shadow Queen

I just finished reading The Shadow Queen by C. J.  Redwine for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

I know I've said it many times, but I love retelling of Fairy Tales.  So when I read that this was a retelling of Snow White I knew I had to read it.  It had many of the same aspects of the fairy tale such as the princess who had to run from the stepmother/queen, apples, dark hair with red lips and snow white skin, and a huntsman (but what about the dwarfs?)  But other than those aspects, the story was completely different.

I definitely enjoyed it, but it took me a while to get through.  I found that I couldn't really fly through it like I can some books.  I liked Lorelai and Kol.  They were both brave and fierce and loyal.  And I loved their connection of speaking through their minds.

It looks like this is the first book in a series, but from what I've read, the books are each going to be retelling of a fairy tale.  And each book will stand alone.  Fun!  I can't wait to see which one is next!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

The Shadow Queen will be released on February 16, 2016.

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.