Mini Reviews: Perfect Couple, Finding It, Trial by Fire, Sinner

Hey, guys! It's been so long since my last review. I'm all done with exams, yay! Now I have a week long break before spring semester starts. Going to re-energize and hopefully get some commenting done. I hope you've all been wonderful! *hugs* I was going to write full reviews for all of these, but I decided to write a post with multiple mini reviews instead. Let me know what you thought of these books :)


Title: Perfect Couple (Superlatives #2)
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: January 15th 2015
Read: Nov 29th, 2014
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*

Can your heart be put to a popular vote?

As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for capturing those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents' bitter divorce has left her wondering what a loving relationship would look like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody the “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been on her case to ask Brody out.

Brody doesn’t lack in female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He seems confused about why they were matched together, too. They’re total opposites—the last people in the world who would ever be compatible, let alone the “perfect couple.” Yet ever since the class paired the two of them, they've found themselves drawn together--first by curiosity, then by an undeniable bond.

The trouble is, though they're very attracted to each other and both of them admit this, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating clearly. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But after they walk away, both of them feel so changed from making the effort that they can’t forget each other. What if that means this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?

It's more like 3.5, I think. Loved the main ship a whole bunch and they are ridiculously cute together. Plus swoony kissing, you guys!!! I didn't connect with the MC, to be honest, and the book was often over dramatic, but regardless, still enjoyable. Echols doesn't shy away from sex talk and sexier themes which is good seeing as it's YA and teenagers aren't oblivious to these things after all. It also has different races when it comes to characters and LGBT themes which is very appreciated. [Highlight to see a slight (?) spoiler] I'm so glad that it didn't have any L-bombs because the book takes place within a week or so and expressing love would have been just too much. DID I SAY SWOONY KISSING ALREADY???

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5.0
Stars: ★★★

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Thank you to Simon Pulse and Edelweiss for providing an arc. My thoughts are my own 

and in no way did the review copy affect my opinion on the book.

Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR

Hey there, my lovelies! It's been a while since my last top ten list, but this topic was just perfect to get back on track with these. I'm great at making lists, but awful at following them so if you love something from this list, all the love and promoting goes! I need the extra excitement to follow this list through and to really try and give each one a chance :) If you're not participating on today's TTT, just leave some of your must reads in the comments, perhaps I can cheer you on a little too ;) Anyhow, this list was so hard to make, but I managed to come up with ten and then some, ha. Let's see what I picked, shall we? :)

Book Haul #28

It's been a great week for me with books. As good as it can be, because I started two books even though my workload at uni is crazy and I have no idea when I'll be finished with them, plus I need to get done with The Burning Sky at one point. I don't know why, but I'm not in the mood to pick it up even though I'm about half way through. Eh, yeah.. I hope you guys in the US had a great thanksgiving and the rest of you are ready to say goodbye to November and welcome December tomorrow :) If you have read any of these pretties down below, let me know what you thought and I can't wait to visit you guys back.

Fire with Fire (Burn for Burn #2) by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Burn for Burn was actually the first book I reviewed for a big publisher. Back when I had like 20 something followers. Don't even ask why I got approved, it still feels a bit of a mystery. Heh. However, I really enjoyed it and Fire with Fire, according to Amber [Books of Amber], is even better and she said that our ship becomes real in this one. OHHH YES!!! Plus, it's one of the prettiest things I've ever held in my hands. It's freaking gorgeous! And HUGE *__*

World After (Penryn and the End of Days #2) by Susan Ee

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Boys #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Adorkable by Sarra Manning

Also, dear followers, if you want to win yourself a paperback of Lola and the Boy Next Door, do give your luck a try over here. Good luck!

What did you get this week? Leave your links below and I'll check out your goodies :)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Mod Podge Bookshelf and Stacking the Shelves is a weekly event hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Published: September 18th 2012
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of theShiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

Maggie Stiefvater is made of something else entirely, I tell you! I have never been a fan of wolf books, but somehow she made me fell in love with her wolves that were so natural, organic and it was a completely different take on these creatures. Well, ladies and gents, she slams again with another magical story filled with Celtic myths, passion, destiny and secrets. It’s completely unique and fascinating to its core and it’s bound to make you wholeheartedly invested in the story.

“She wasn't interested in telling other people's futures. She was interested in going out and finding her own.”

As always, it takes time to adjust to Maggie’s lyrical writing which, in all honesty, is indeed magical and also kinda fairy tale-ish. Moreover, Maggie’s books and world building are always full of fantasy, but they feel so real and truthful that it’s easy to connect with the characters and find something relatable in all of them. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to get used to different 3rd person POV-s, but it paid off and it felt to me as if I was one step ahead of our gang, but I could still be taken aback by some of the surprises.

The romance definitely takes the backseat in this story, but its presence is always there and sometimes it’s so close you can almost taste it, but not quite. The characters and their personalities add spice to an otherwise just adventurous and mysterious story. By the end I was so fascinated and caught up in the story that I was sad to see that I had reached the acknowledgements. There were two things that somewhat bothered me: 1st –  I would have loved to see more of the dynamics between the boys. I adored every single one of them in my own way and their interactions, history and relationships were really the heart of the book; 2nd – the action and the real quest to find the source of Gansey's obsession could have begun sooner.

In a nutshell, Maggie Stiefvater, you are made of magic and evil! I adored this book, but THAT cliff hanger? I want the sequel now! I knew I should have put reading The Raven Boys off as long as possible;) Oh well.. Dear September 5th – I’m waiting for you! I think there’s so much more to explore and the bomb that was revealed an the end? Yes, yes, yes! That’s all I have to say. Oh, and team Gansey, too:) *blushes*

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

IMM/StS #7

These are the books I got throughout the past two weeks. Leave me a comment if you've read any of these and tell me whether or not you liked it so I know which books to pick up next. Also, make sure to leave your StS/IMM links in the comments so I can visit you back. Thanks!

 Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor *this book is probably the most beautiful book I have ever seen. Like EVER. And it's a real beast! It's huge and I can't wait to start devouring it soon:)*

Deity (Covenant #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1) by Michelle Hodkin

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

Soul Screamers Volume 2 by Rachel Vincent

Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton (you can read my review here)

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater in Estonian *I have already read all of the three book in this series, but it was in harcback and for ~8$ so I felt like I needed to get that since I really love love love that trilogy and I first read them when I borrowed them from a library, so yeah.. I think you can get my point, ha* (you can read my review here)

What did you get this week? Leave your links below and I'll check out your goodies :)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren and Stacking the Shelves is a weekly event hosted @ Tynga's Reviews.

Top Ten Tuesday #8

 

Top Ten Favorite Kick-Ass Heroines

It was such a tough choice that I chose 10 of these lovely ladies and then put the others on a honorable mentions list down below. All of them deserve to be in the top ten and I think they're all absolutely fantastic! They've sacrificed a lot for their loved ones, been to battles beyond our imaginations, have great personalities and are just exceptional role models.

I'm not quite sure what captures me on this picture, but her kick-ass
attitude and determined expression definitely do our heroines
justice. Love it!

1. Rose Hathaway (Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead)
2. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins)
3. Karou (Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor)
4. Alex(andria) Andros (Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout)
5. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling)
6. Clary Fray (The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare)
7. Meghan Chase (The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa)
8. Nora Grey (Hush Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick)
9. Beartice Prior (Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth)
10. Anna Whitt (Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins)

Honorable mentions:

Sookie Stackhouse (Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris)
Sydney Sage (Bloodlines Series by Richelle Mead)
Lena Duchannes (The Caster Chronicles Saga by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl)
Nikki Beckett (The Everneath Trilogy by Brodi Ashton)
Katy Swartz (The Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout)
Theia Alderson (Falling Under Series by Gwen Hayes)
Georgina Kincaid (Georgina Kincaid Series by Richelle Mead)
Tessa Grey (The Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare)
Grace Brisbane (The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater)


Do you agree with my list? Would you add anybody else? Who did you pick as your top ten kick-ass heroines? Leave your links below and I'll check out yours :)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish.

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is hosted at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. Even though it's a weekly event, I post my entries biweekly.

This week we have:

1. If I Lie by Corrine Jackson
2. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Hey! Mainin lihtsalt, et nüüd (alates 18.05) on võimalik lugeda kõiki kolme Maggie Stiefvateri sulest ilmunud Mercy Fallsi huntide sarja raamatut eestikeelsetena. Kirjastus Tänapäev on lõpuks suutnud terve sarja eestikeelsena välja anda. Esimene raamat oli sarjast vaieldamatult kõige parem, teised kaks olid ka suhteliseld head. Esimese osa, mis kannab pealkirja "Värin", eestikeelset review'd on võimalik lugeda siit.

Forever

The conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy. In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

The beginning of this one was just too slow for me. At one point  I found myself cheering for Cole and Isabel more than for Sam and Grace, because for the 2/3 of it Sam was alone and depressed, Grace, well, she was a totally different case. Most of the time I didn’t have a clue what was going on with her. The end of the triology suprised me, because I was sure everyone was going to make it out alive, but during the last chapter I wasn’t so sure of it anymore. Tom Culper really got on my nerves, ugh. By the way, at first, I was convinced that the police officer, who agreed to help Sam, was going to betray the wolves and guide them into a trap, therefore, I was pleasently suprised when he sided bravely with the wolves and protected innocent (well, some of them weren’t that innocent.. cough, cough, Shelby, cough) people, who had to live with this curse of changing. I was literally on the verge of tears at the end of the book when only three of them made it out alive. I liked the friendship between Sam and Isabel and between Isabel and Grace. Grace was the heart of these four young adults. She was the connection between them, connecting three totally different strings: one silky, but ice cold, one black and torned, and one, beautiful and yellow, but a little dull. Isabel was distant and cold, but opened up to Grace and, in my opinion, she was the one who grew the most. Cole was not icy exactly, but careless: he did not care about anything else than himself and Grace (as Sam and Isabel) helped him understand, why caring about people is important, how much it helps one to reach out to others. After all, lets be honest, human beings are social animals and do not stand to be alone for a long time. Sam was caring and loving, but he would not let people inside his world, Grace on the other hand, offered him everything, what seemed to be missing in the first place. She encouraged him and kind of showed him the way towards brightness. To a road without the fears of his past which were holding him back. She helped him get over his fears, caused by childhood traumas and the fear of lonelyness. I think that it’s hard to pick a favorite character out of everyone in this series, because it the end, they all won my heart, but I guess the story that moved me the most was Isabel’s. She was a complete stranger at first (in the „Shiver“). Superior, selfish, cantankerous. She grew the most during the series (well Cole did too, I guess). Finally she had real friends and she became caring, compassionate and strong. I was extremely glad that it turned out good for her.

Book trailer. Rate: 4/5

Reading order:

1. „Shiver“
2. „Linger“
3. „Forever“

In conclusion, I can say this: I read all the three books and the first one was my favorite. The other two just didn’t reach to the level set up by „Shiver“, but it was a pretty good series.  It wasn’t that supernatural actually (well, fine, there are no werewolves in real life, but it was pretty  modest compared to some other books/shows I’ve read/watched). It was more of a story about growth, progression, emotions and revealing the souls of these characters. I LOVED the descriptions in the books. They were interesting and easy to read, created a wonderful milieu and therefore it was easy to melt into the book.

Igavesti

UK kaanekujunduse näide. Eestikeelse
pealkirjaga niikuinii hetkel pole.

Lõpp bestsellerist trioloogiale „Värin“. Esimeses osas leidsid Sam ja Grace teineteist. Teises võitlesid nad kokkujäämise nimel. Nüüd, kolmandas osas, on panused kõrgemad kui kunagi varem. Hunte jahitakse. Elud on ohus. Ja armastusest kinni hoida on aina raskem ja raskem, sest surm tuleb aina lähemale.

Kolmandat osa on hetkel (veel, tõenäoliselt ilmub see lähiajal ka eestikeelsena) võimalik lugeda vaid ingliskeelsena (või ka mõnes muus keeles, kui välismaalt tellida ja inglise keelt eriti ei oska). Raamatu algus venis ja venis ning leidsin ühel hetkel, et elan rohkem kaasa Cole’i ja Isabele’i loole kui Samile ja Grace’ile, sest Sam oli 2/3 teosest üksinda ja masenduses, Grace, well, temaga olid hoopis teised lood. Enamiku ajast ei teadnudki, mis temaga toimub. Trioloogia lõpp hämmastas mind, sest olin alguses kindel, et kõik pääsevad eluga, aga viimases peatükis polnud ma selles üldse nii veendunud. Isabeli isa ajas mul vahepeal närvi ikka nii mustaks, et õhh. Arvasin kusjuures, et see politseinik, kes Samile abi pakkus, reedab neid ja ajab hundid lõksu, seepärast olin ka positiivselt üllatunud, kui ta vapralt huntide poolele asus ning süütuid (niivõrd-kuivõrd, mõni neist polnud just väga süütu.. khm-khm, Shelby, khm-khm) inimesi, kes muundumise needusega elama peavad, aitas. Mõtlesin tõsimeeli, et ainult kolm peategelast pääsesid eluga ja lootsin südames, et võib-olla on õhkõrn võimalus, et see pole nii, aga olgem ausad, olukord tundus (ja oligi!) väga lootusetu. Olgem ausad, olin kurb. Mulle meeldis Sami ja Isabeli sõprus ning Isabeli ja Grace’i sõprus.Grace oli neliku süda. Ta sidus omavahel kokku justkui 3 erinevat nöörijuppi: ühe siidise, ent jäiselt sinise, ühe musta, rebenenud lindi ja ühe, mis oli imeilusalt kollane, kuid määrdunud ja tuhmunud. Isabel oli külm ja kauge, kuid avas end tänu Grace’ile ja kasvas isiksusena kõige enam. Cole oli see-eest mitte just külm, aga ükskõikne, teda ei huvitanud miski muu peale iseenda ja Grace (ning ka Sam ja Isabel) aitasid tal mõista, miks teiste eest seismine ja nendest hoolimine on tähtis, kui palju see inimesele pakub. Lõppude lõpuks on inimene ju sotsiaalne loom ja ei talu üksindust. Sam oli armastav ja hooliv, kuid ei lasknud just palju inimesi endale ligi, Grace suutis talle pakkuda kõike, mis Sami elust varem puudus ja suunas teda teele, kus paistis tulevik, mitte ainult mineviku armid, mis poissi kammitsesid. Ta aitas tal üle saada hirmudest, mis olid põhjustatud lapsepõlvetraumadest ja üksinduse hirmust. Arvan, et lemmikut tegelast sarjast on raske esile tõsta, sest lõppkokkuvõttes võitsid nad kõik mu südame, aga võib-olla läks kõige rohkem hinge Isabeli lugu. Ta oli algul täiesti võõras (esimeses osas). Üleolev, isekas ja jäärapäine. Ta kasvas kolme raamatu jooksul kõige rohkem (Cole samuti). Sarja lõpuks olid tal sõbrad. Isabel oli arenenud hoolivaks, kaastundlikuks ja tugevaks inimeseks ning mul oli hea meel, et tema jaoks kõik siiski hästi lõppes.

Raamatu treiler. Hinne: 4/5

Lugemisjärjekord:

1. „Värin“
2. „Palavik“
3. „Igavesti“

Kokkuvõtteks võin öelda nii palju: lugesin kõik kolm raamatut läbi. Enim meeldis esimene. Teised kaks ei küündinud sellele tasemele, ent kokkuvõttes võin öelda, et üpriski hea sari. Polnud eriti supernatural tegelikult (hästi, päriselus ju libahunte ei eksisteeri, aga arvestades, milliseid raamatuid/sarju lugenud/vaadanud olen, siis oli see ikka väga tagasihoidlik), põhines rohkem emotsioonide edasi andmisel ja tegelaste sisemaailma paljastamisel. Väga meeldisid kirjeldused! Need olid lihtsalt loetavad, aga huvitavad ja omapärased. Tekitasid mõnusa miljöö ja seetõttu oli kerge raamatuga ühte sulanduda.

Linger

The UK version of the cover. Something
different for a change, perhaps

In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.
At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love—the light and the dark, the warm and the cold—in a way you will never forget.

In my opinion, the sequel was weaker than the first book and although I started to like Isabel in the first one, I felt like her coldness and compassionless, while the story was being told by her point of view, left me compassionless towards her. I could not create any kind of a bond with Cole St. Clair and I guess it’s the main thing I didn’t like about the book. His dark past did not affect me at all, neither did his efforts to get away from his past and apathy towards the people encircling him. The whole continuous drug addiction, coldness and apathy just lost all its value, appeal and I just got tired of reading it. As for the end of the book, I started to have some empathy towards him and I was curious, I must admit, but it was superficial. There were some moments in the novel which shined brightly, but everything else was just like a black stain on a white cloth and it ruined all the other parts. It’s just my opinion and I’m more than sure, that there are a lot of people who enjoyed the sequel and maybe even considered it better than the first one. I liked that the roles changed and that the ending of „Linger“ was sad and desperate. It wasn’t that much of a shock, because Stiefvater was trying to sail this boat towards this kind of an ending and she tried to keep the tension and suspicion, I kind of expected it, but I still felt for all four of them. At the end of it. When it comes to Grace, than I had a mixture of feelings: on one hand, I was happy about her, because it was something she had always wanted, since she was a little girl, but on the other hand, I was sad, because she had everything she wanted and it all came crashing down just in a few moments. Moments! Overall, the sequel was progressing pretty fast, if I all the parts of Cole's past are not considered, and I do not regret reading it, but if I ought to read about the wolves of Mercy Falls again some day, I’d probably just read the first one. Still, it was a great piece of writing to read, while trying to escape from reality and just imagine yourself being in a completely different environment, and I’d say overall, I quite enjoyed it, but I just wasn't satisfied.

Book trailer. Rate: 3/5

Reading order:

1. „Shiver“
2. „Linger“
3. „Forever“

Shiver

There’ve been a lot of books written about wolves, but usually they’re not really truthful, I mean, everything’s over the top and even if the plotline is amusing, it’s literally too hard to believe it to be realistic. But I guess it’s why they call it fiction and they’re considered fantasy novels. Maggie Stiefvater, an american novelist, has written a series named „The Wolves of Mercy Falls“ and she’s used the basic laws of nature really well in her writings. The story of the wolves felt real, because:

1. There is no bloodline-curse or anything like that (Twilight e.g.). One changes after one’s been bitten.
2. The change itself is based on temperature (and seasons): the more colder it is (and little cold breezes affect one, too), the more likelihood that one will change to a wolf, during summertime one can be a human.. The more one’s been a wolf (umm.. the more time it’s past from being bitten), the less time one can spend time as a human, which means that by every change one  will stay longer as a wolf and at one point, one will never change back to human. Kind of tragic, I think.

There are 3 books and Stiefvater has stated that there will be no other (although, she made a joke on her facebook page, where she claimed that there will be a fourth book called „Litter“ coming soon, but I advise not to believe it, because it was meant as a joke (April, 1)). The three books are, as followed:

1. „Shiver“
2. „Linger“
3. „Forever“

„Shiver“

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

I liked the first novel the best, it was quite original and gripping. At first, I was pretty sceptical and thought that the love story between Sam and Grace was moving too fast, but it didn’t bother me a bit while reading. I’ve read „My Sister’s Keeper“ by Jodi Picoult and I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style in that particular book. I didn’t like that it was written in different people’s points of view and I felt like I ouldn’t connect with the characters when there were too many to connect with (all of the family members, the lawyer and the socialworker). This book was much easier to relate to. It was written in both – Sam’s and Grace’s – point of view and it contributed to the storyline. It was easier to cheer them on and to feel for them. Easier to understand their actions and feelings, their past and present. I liked that neither of them was perfect or okay, one was tortured by one’s parents in one’s childhood and it still haunts one. The other one is 17, yes, but had to grow up quickly, is independent and a lot of the time has to be the parent to one’s parents. They help each other and are there for each other. Not needing or wanting anything else, than just somebody to love and adore, someone, who’s willing to listen and comfort. They find it in each other and while reading, I really didn’t want it to end, but I knew that there were some things even love cannot conquer. I was pleasently suprised by the ending and while it binded all the loose ends, it also left room for your own imagination. It was touching. I thought that this should have been just this book and no more, I don’t regret reading the other two, but they, honestly, didn’t reach the level set by „Shiver“. When you do not want to read all of the three books, I highly recommend the first one. By the way, I thought the cover is absolutely beautiful, breath taking and it really catched my eye! It’s one of my favourite covers.

Book trailer. Rate: 5/5

Reading order:

1. „Shiver“
2. „Linger“
3. „Forever“

Palavik

Sam ja Grace on lõpuks koos, kuid peavad kokkujäämise nimel võitlema. Samile tähendab see silmitsi seismist oma hundiminevikuga, Grace’ile aga leppimist üha ebakindlama tulevikuga.

Nende maailma on lisandunud uus hunt – Cole, kes oma valusa ja ohtliku mineviku pärast näibki eelistavat hundi elu inimese omale. Nii Sami, Grace’i kui ka Cole’i jaoks on elu lakkamatu võitlus kahe jõu – hundi ja inimese – vahel. Neid seob vastastikune armastus, kuid kas sellest piisab?

Teine raamat oli nõrgem kui esimene, minu arvates, ja kuigi esimeses jaos hakkas mulle Isabel meeldima, siis tema mõnevõrra külm ja kalk olek jätsid ka minu külmaks, kui autor tüdruku silmade läbi sündmusi kajastas. Cole’iga ei suutnud ma mingit kontakti luua ja see vist tõmbaski teose väärtuse alla. Tema tume minevik ei kõigutanud mind, püüdlused kõigest eemale saada ja ükskõiksus teda ümbritsevate inimeste suhtes samuti mitte. Kogu see narkootikumide, ükskõiksuse jms pidev nämmutamine kaotas lõpuks oma väärtuse ja ma lihtsalt ei jaksanud seda enam lugeda. Raamatu lõpu poole  toimunud sündmused siiski äratasid minus tema vastu mingit huvi, ent seegi jäi pealiskaudseks.  Teoses olid mõned momendid, mis särasid teistest üle, kuid osa oli nagu must plekk valgel riidel, rikkus kõik ära. Aga see on ju vaid minu isiklik arvamus, olen kindel, et paljudele siiski meeldis teine osa väga, mõnele võib-olla isegi rohkem kui esimene. Mulle meeldis, et rollid vahetusid ja et lõpp oli kurb ning meeleheitlik. See polnud suur šokk, sest kogu teose vältel üritas autor sinna suunda triivida ja pinget üleval hoida, ent tundsin kõigile neljale peategelasele mingil määral kaasa. Mis puutub Grace’i, siis olid mul vastakad tunded: olin tema pärast rõõmus, sest ta tahtis seda ju lapsest saati, kuid olin kurb, sest tal oli nüüd kõik, mida ta vajas ja see kadus hetkega. Hetkega! Üldjuhul oli teos suhteliselt kiiresti arenev, kui Cole’i mineviku heietused välja arvata, ning ma ei kahetse selle lugemist, kuid kui peaksin kunagi ühe raamatu neist kolmest, mis räägivad Mercy Fallsi huntidest, uuesti kätte võtma, siis tõenäoliselt oleks selleks vaid esimene.  Siiski, hea vabaaja lugemine ja üldjoontes mulle meeldis, aga ma lihtsalt ei jäänud selle teosega väga rahule.

Raamatu treiler. Hinne: 3/5

Lugemisjärjekord:

1. „Värin“
2. „Palavik“
3. „Igavesti“

Värin

Huntidest on palju raamatuid kirjutatud, aga üldjuhul pole need väga tõetruud, kõik on üle võlli keeratud ja isegi, kui lugu on kaasahaarav, on raske uskuda, et sellised asjad ka päriselt juhtuda võiksid, kuigi ega muidu ei kuuluks need ka ulme-fantaasia žanrisse. Maggie Stiefvater, ameerika kirjanik, on Mercy Fallsi huntide loo väga kenasti ümbritseva maailma ja loodusseaduste peale üles ehitanud. Huntide lugu tundus reaalsena peamiselt kahel põhjusel:

1. Pole mingit suguvõsa hundistumist (nagu näiteks Twilightis), hundiks muutud, kui sind hammustatakse
2. Muundumine inimesest hundiks  toimub sõltuvalt temperatuuris (ja aastaajast): mida külmem ilm (ka näiteks väikesed tuuleiilid ukse avamisel jms suudavad keha mõjutada), seda suurem tõenäosus on muunduda, suvel on võimalik aga inimese kehas viibida.. mida vähem oled hunt olnud, seda kauem saad inimene olla, mis tähendab, et iga muundumisega jääd aina kauemaks hundiks, kuni mingil hetkel ei muutugi enam tagasi.

Mercy Fallsi huntide sarjas on kokku 3 teost ja autori sõnul ühtegi juurde ei tule (hoolimata naljast, mis 1. aprillil suhtlusportaali facebook üles ilmus):

1. „Värin“
2. „Palavik“
3. „Igavesti“

„Värin“

Grace on aastaid vaadanud oma maja taga metsas elavaid hunte. Üks kollaste silmadega hunt vaatab alati vastu. Ta tundub Grace’ile väga tuttav, aga tüdruk ei taipa, miks.
Samil on kaks elu. Hundina pakub ta sõnatut seltsi tüdrukule, keda armastab. Inimesena ei julge ta armastatule kunagi läheneda ... kuni praeguseni.
Kui Grace’i ja Sami armastus ilmsiks tuleb, peavad mõlemad võitlema, et Sam jääks inimeseks, mitte hundiks. Kuid see tähendab, et neil tuleb silmitsi seista armilise mineviku, hapra oleviku ja võimatuna näiva tulevikuga.

Esimene osa  meeldis kõige enam, oli originaalne ja kaasahaarav. Algul olin skeptiline ja  arvasin, et võib-olla armastuslugu Sami ja Grace’i vahel liigub liialt kiiresti, aga see ei seganud kuidagi lugemist. Kui lugesin Jodi Picoultic sulest ilmunud teost  „Oma õe hoidja“, ei meeldinud mulle, kuidas autor oli lahendanud teose ülesehituse. Raske oli kõigi pereliikmete ja lisaks ka veel advokaadi ja sotsiaaltöötaja pilgu läbi raamatu sündmustega kaasa mõelda ja kõigiga emotsionaalselt samastuda. Maggie Stiefvater on oma romaanid selles sarjas sarnaselt üles ehitanud, ent esimeses osas jutustavad oma lugu vaid Grace ja Sam, seega on kergem tegelasi ning nende läbielamisi mõista, neile kaasa tunda, kaasa ergutada. Kergem mõista nende minevikku ja olevikku. Mulle meeldis, et kumbki neist polnud ideaalne ja kummalgi neist polnud kõik korras: üht neist oli vanemate poolt lapsepõlves julmalt piinatud ja see kummitas teda ka olevikus; teine, 17-aastane noor, pidi küllaltki kiiresti suureks kasvama, olema iseseisev ja mitte tahtlikult hoolitsema oma vanemate eest ja justkui neid kasvatama. Sam ja Grace on üksteise jaoks olemas. Nad ei vaja ega taha midagi muud, kui kedagi armastada, jumaldada; kedagi, kes kuulab ja lohutab. Nad leiavad selle üksteises ja kui lugesin, ei tahtnud, et nende lugu lõppeks, kuigi teadsin, et vaid armastuse toel pole võimalik kõikidele raskustele vastu seista. Kui esimesele osale poleks lisa tulnud, oleksin võib-olla isegi rõõmsam olnud, kuna see lõpp jättis fantaasiale palju ruumi ja otsad olid justkui lahti ja samas kinni. Kui kõiki kolme osa ei viitsi lugeda, siis esimest soovitan küll, eestikeelne variant on samuti olemas. Muideks, raamatu kaas on erakordselt ilus ja pilkupüüdev! Üks mu lemmikuid.

Raamatu treiler. Hinne: 5/5

Lugemisjärjekord:

1. „Värin“
2. „Palavik“
3. „Igavesti“