Book Review: Invisibility by David Levithan & Andrea Cremer

Title: Invisibility
Authors: Andrea Cremer & David Levithan
Publication Date: May 07, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

My Thoughts

I honestly was excited to start this book and at the very first few chapters, it managed to catch my interest. But later on, it was already kind of dragging. I haven't read any work from Andrea Cremer so this is my first from her but I've read and liked Every Day by David Levithan and also Will Grayson, Will Grayson in collaboration with John Green so I was looking forward to reading this. 

I like the invisibility concept (not to mention the cover of the book as well) and this is one of the few books I've read where I have this need to feel so bad for the male character. This need to hug him and comfort him. Being invisible is never cool and Stephen probably knows that since he's lived sixteen years being invisible. 

The things that put me off was, first: the relationship between Elizabeth and Stephen. It was cute in the beginning but the moment she knew his curse, his big secret, it became distant. Somewhat distant but they're working on it and glad that they're fighting for it. But it was...bland. I don't know, I feel like she shuts him out every time he wants to help. Of course, he's in the picture too so I think he's in the need to do something.

Then the revelations part. I'm satisfied with Elizabeth screaming when she found out that Stephen's invisible. That would create a normal reaction knowing you're the only one who can see your boyfriend. But the moment she found out about her abilities, no reaction much? Okay so maybe that's because she can feel something about her is...something. Still, I was hoping for a reaction. And until the last part of the book, her ability to see Stephen leaves a question mark. Like there's no hint? Or did I just miss it?

This was okay. Okay-Read. I like the relationship of Elizabeth and her brother, also their mom. Stephen's father is a question mark too, I would have loved his mom. Why is his grandfather strong in a fight if he's really...old. I don't quite understand Millie. 

There are tons of things I've been meaning for the book to explain further. Most of the book took up on Elizabeth's POV where she's learning magic and Stephen's POV where he's trying to figure out about his curse. To me, it lacks the grip of excitement in action scenes. And it lacks conversation. CONVERSATIONS. I'm not thoroughly fond of the "more narration, less conversation" stuff. That's all. 


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Book Review: Falling Kingdoms

Title: Falling Kingdoms
Series: Falling Kingdoms, #1
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Publication Date: December 11, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...

The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

My Thoughts

I kind of devoured this book. I was a bit skeptical at first with all the names and the cover. But never ever judge a book by its cover, as what they said.

This book got multiple POVs and from my experience with multiple POVs, I ended up getting so confused. But with this, I enjoyed it. The POV in third person probably is the reason. The world and the places in it are interesting and well-written. I had to remember who’s living in what. Plot’s good but the characters? Some characters are badass while some are just plain, for me. I love Cleo and Jonas as individuals. Even Brion. But Magnus and Lucia.. I don’t want to start. I like Lucia but that’s it. As for Magnus, I’m angry at him. Angry for what he did to Theon and I’m not very fond of him.

I got a minor issue with this book: Jonas has less screen time.

He’s got an interesting POV but at times when I’m reading the book, I would expect his POV in the next chapter then my expectations just died down. Though he’s full of vengeance but who wouldn’t? If I’m in his place I’d also like to seek justice for what happened to my brother. Although it wouldn’t be like Jonas’ way but still.. And I think meeting Cleo somehow changed something inside him..a bit. She’s not what he expected and it was fun reading their interaction even if only for a while. He really needs more chapters for his POV. There’s more Magnus but I want to skip his POVs but then I had to read to understand the whole story, and I had to keep my eyes from rolling.

Excited for the next book! December please hurry up! I hope more character development and more Jonas. MORE JONAS.

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Book Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1

Author: Laini Taylor

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Add to: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”; she speaks many languages not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Thoughts:

Wow. This book was a great and I can’t believe it took me a year to finally read it. So last week, I finally got my copy and it didn’t disappoint.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone got a unique concept and plot. It’s actually refreshing from paranormal books in genre that I’ve read. I got intrigued about this whole ‘teeth’ thing. And then we have Karou, the main female character who happens to be somehow “special & unique”. At first, it made me think how eminent her imagination is. Since she’s an artist and she draws these certain creatures and she actually has a storyline about them every day which she shared to her best friend.

But then, there’s this forbidden romance (which is kind of an exception on what I said about being unique since I’ve read a ton of YA regarding that situation). The revelation during the last few chapters got me confused for a bit. I had to reread to understand how this/that happened. The chapters (events) tend to change from Karou’s situation to another characters, from present to past to back again.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book. Worth getting a second read (and more).


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