TTT - Top Ten Most Unique Books I've Read

This list was kinda hard to compile, but here ya go!

Obsidian was very unique to me in that it's about aliens. I normally don't read anything about aliens so I thought this was pretty different, but cool. Also, man this book is HOT. It's really really good.

The concept in this book was totally off the charts. It was actually kinda confusing with a lot of world building and sci-fiy stuff. It was definitely unique. Check out my review here.

Cinder had a very different premise. Books like these, I think you either love 'em or hate 'em and I fell in line with the latter. The very unique twist on Cinderella with robots was pretty daring though. My review can be seen here.

I love this book and it's unique take on Alice in Wonderland but with zombies! Oh, and COLE HOLLAND.

I never even heard of the concept of PSS in a book so it took me a bit by surprise. It was one of those books though that took you by surprise and made you love it. Check out my review here.

You might be thinking that it's just another vampire book. But, no it's a vampire book on an island with vampires and Watchers, aka kickass girls who protect said vampires. READ. IT.

I read this book when I was like 13, so a long time ago. I remember that the format was in emails that the main character, Emily, writes to her friend. I've never really read any books with this type of format but I ended up really loving this series. If you're in for a light and hilarious read, pick up the Emily series by Katie Maxwell. 

This whole series had such a different concept that I've never read about. Dragons. And I really ended up liking it until the last few books.

Lord of the Flies was so different from other books I've read and definitely unique compared to other books I've read for school. I ended up enjoying it though it is a bit creepy.

This book wasn't necessarily different from other young adult books out there but the twist on King Arthur was a bit unique.

Thoughts:

What are some unique books that you've read? 

Review: The Keep by Veronica Wolff

Title: The Keep Author: Veronica Wolff Series: The Watchers #4 Reading Level: Young Adult Publisher: NAL Trade | June 4, 2013 Pages: 320 Add it: Goodreads Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Books-A-Million  Synopsis:  JUST BECAUSE YOU WORK FOR THE DEAD DOESN’T MEAN YOU WANT TO JOIN THEM. Drew has just started her second year on the Isle of Night, and the weather isn’t the only thing changing drastically. She has ascended to the rank of Initiate. She’s also found an intimate love in the handsome vampire, Carden. But most of all, she no longer dreams of escape. She dreams of vengeance. Her friend, Emma, was brutally wounded by the savage vampire Alcántara, and may have been taken to the dreaded castle, from which none of the living return. But there are so many different stories from so many people with so many of their own deceits and machinations, Drew can’t be sure of anything—except that she must find a way into the castle to discover the truth and take down Alcántara once and for all. But Drew isn’t the only one out for revenge. Someone very dangerous on the island is also out for blood… Hers…

The Scene

Drew's on an island again doing her own kickass routine. There's lots of training in this one with Ronan to boot. The whole thing with Emma in the previous book, Blood Fever, was dealt with (kinda), thank god, but it was still sad.

The Girl

Oh gosh. Can I just say that I love Drew? She is awesome and so kickass. I love her fight, her snark, and how strong she is. Yeah, she makes some stupid decision sometimes (who doesn't?) but I think that's what makes her a bit realistic, especially for a girl her age. Drew is a huge reason why I love the Watchers series so much.

The Boy(s)

Ronan was in this book so much. And I loved it. Don't get me wrong I like Carden but I've always been more of a Ronan fan. Drew and him just need to hurry up and get together already.

The WTF?!

Ohmygosh, what the hell was up with Yasuo?! I was totally flipping because I really liked him in the previous books. He went all freaking psycho on Drew and it actually made me a little sad. And angry.

The Buzz

I can't even begin to express how much I enjoy the Watchers series and The Keep was no exception. I loved the action, mystery, intrigue, and of course romance that totally kept me captivated. 

I just cannot wait for the next book to come out! But, to tide you over (and me) there's a novella out that's in Ronan's POV. 

Yes, Ronan's POV.

It's called Dark Craving and here's an excerpt from Veronica Wolff's website.

Twelve months ago “Tracer Ronan.” The vampire Hugo De Rosas Alcántara stared at me over steepled fingers. His face was unmarred by age, features smoothed by that utter stillness borne of immortality. To him, I was merely a man. Worse, a young man. And he was trying to make me squirm. He leaned closer, peering at me. Leather the color of ox’s blood creaked beneath him, the office decor, like his posturing, meant to menace. Alcántara was ancient, but more than that, he was a ruler. A creature of power among the most powerful. “Is this impatience I read on your face?” he asked finally. Just let me get on with it, I thought. I despised my job and would have it done. It was a godforsaken place, this Eyja næturinnar. This Isle of Night. Nothing but grey cliffs, bleak skies, hostile seas. And vampires. “You young humans.” His lips pursed with contempt. “Always so anxious, racing to your own deaths.” Young, he called me. An irony, seeing as Alcántara looked no older than my nineteen years. To him, I was weak. A bit of mortal ephemera. Flesh with an expiration date—one that he controlled. “Not at all,” I assured him. Mine was a game that went deeper than impatience and fear. The day would come when Alcántara learned how greatly he’d underestimated me. For now, though, I gave him a subservient nod. “I’m merely looking forward to getting on my way.” “On your way, is it?” He leaned back with a sneer. “You fashion yourself quite the lone wolf, don’t you? A ma-ver-ick.” He pronounced each syllable of the word slowly, disdainfully, his lips peeling back as he ended on the sharp, hard k sound, revealing a pair of long, gleaming fangs. “No indeed, Master Alcántara,” I assured him in as formal a tone as I could manage. Let him think I was cowed. “Best to remember, rebels are not tolerated.” His mouth curved in a catlike smile. Lean and striking, sleek and dark, the Spanish vampire was a deadly panther in elegant human form. “You are merely a Tracer. My Tracer.” His Tracer. He believed this was all I might be. A human tool who brought unsuspecting adolescents to him—to their almost-certain deaths. “Naturally.” I thought I might’ve nodded my head in a gesture of respectful submission, but all I knew was the single thought driving me: One day this submission would end. One day I would destroy him. Slowly and with gusto.  Add it: Goodreads Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Sooooo, what do you think? Good, huh?

Rating

Oh yeah, seriously

Review: Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

Title: Spellcaster Author: Claudia Gray Series: Spellcaster #1 Reading Level: Young Adult Publisher: HarperTeen | March 5, 2013 Pages: 389 Add it: Goodreads Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Books-A-Million  Synopsis:  When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed. Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

My thoughts {bzzzzzzzzzzz}:

The Scene

Spellcaster is like so many young adult titles nowadays. It has a main character (female) with side characters (friend), and love interest (hot boy). There's also some sort of supernatural going on (magic) and an evil villain (evil witch). I'll tell you right now, I didn't like Spellcaster very much. It was just very...bleh. Yeah, it had so many elements of YA books currently but it was actually quite boring.

The Girl

We'll start with the main character. It's been awhile since I read the book but all I can remember about Nadia is...nothing. Seriously, I can't really remember what Nadia is like because her character lacked any type of depth. She was completely one-dimensional. She bored me to death and I couldn't connect with her at all.

The Boy(s)

The love interest, Mateo, seemed so forced to me. It was like Gray was forcing it down our throats that MATEO AND NADIA ARE GOING TO BE TOGETHER ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TOGETHER AND WILL BE TOGETHER. Like, okay we get it.

On top of that, I didn't like Mateo really. He was just kinda flat like most of the characters in Spellcaster.

The WTF?!

1. the characters - I didn't relate to them at all. Maybe it's me but I just couldn't connect with Nadia, Mateo, or even Verlaine.
2. the plot - let me just say, booor-ing. Don't get me wrong, it had heaps of potential but it was so slooow.

The Buzz

Sadly, Spellcaster had very little buzz. It had potential but it didn't live up to that potential.

Rating

WOW - Waiting On The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

This week I'm waiting on

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster? With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer. MONSTER Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie. In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone. Release Date: April 15, 2014

Ohmygosh. Ohmygosh. Ohmygosh. Ohmygosh. Ohmygosh.

That ending.

I. Need. This. Book.

Now.

 

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Bones Author: Cassandra Clare Series: The Mortal Instruments #1 Reading Level: Young Adult Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books | March 27, 2007 Pages: 485 Add it: Goodreads Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Books-A-Million  Synopsis:  When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know... Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

My thoughts {bzzzzzzzzzzz}: 

The Scene

NYC. Half-human, half-angel hybrids (aka Shadowhunters) who hunt and kill demons. 15 year old girl who doesn't know what anything about this alternate world and is thrown into it unexpectedly. Sound like a typical young adult book yet?

The Girl

Clary was like of lot of main female characters in YA. Kind of normal then gets thrown into a world where normal is anything but. I actually liked her a lot. Surprising because I usually like the more kick ass variety of female main characters. I wouldn't call Clary hardcore like Rose from Vampire Academy but she's still pretty tough.

The Boy(s)

If you like cocky, sarcastic, blond, and, well hot, look no further then Jace Wayland. Jace is very infuriating from the start and kind of a jerk. Buuut, he's also a badass demon hunter who will do anything to protect his brother and sister (not by blood) Isabelle and Alec. Also, Jace really knows how to crack those one-liners. Simon is the other guy in the equation. He's Clary's best friend and kind of in the friend zone. Simon is hilarious! I think he's a great character and definitely is another great reason why I love City of Bones so much.

The WTF?!

I don't really wanna spoil it for ya'll but I have to say it. One word: incest. Yeah, it was really frickin' weird when I found out about this. Trust me, you'll be shocked too. Luckily, almost all the other books are out so you don't have to wait to read what happens next.

The Buzz

I was completely engrossed in City of Bones and read it really fast. I loved the world building and all the different elements of the book. The characters were great, the plot was great, and it kept me thinking about it all the time.

Rating

Really, it should come as no surprise that

WOW - Waiting On City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

This week I'm waiting on

ERCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID. I am coming. Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. In the long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother. Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Dark Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris -- but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons? When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim has ever know is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee -- even of their journey takes them deep into demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned... Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the world in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

I am simultaneously annoyed and excited for City of Heavenly Fire. On one hand, I love this series and I really want to read the ending. On the other hand, I'm so annoyed that it's taken two freaking years for it to be released since City of Lost Souls. 

Seriously. Let me read the book already.

Are you excited to read the last Mortal Instruments book? What are you most excited about? Is it Malec? Simon and Izzy? Clary and Jace? Or is it the overall ending of the series?

City of Heavenly Fire releases May 27, 2014.

My New Rating System!

Hey guys!

You know all those rating systems that bloggers seem to conjure like magic specifically tailored to their blogs? Yeah, well I kinda got tired of my plain old star system. So, I've been thinking that maybe I should create my own rating system, but I've been putting it off for so long because I didn't know what each rating should be called. 

Then it hit me.

My blog name, Brianna's Book Buzz, is the perfect way to base my rating system off of. So, without further ado, here is my new rating system:

No Buzz Whatsoever: It was horrible. I did not like this book at all. There was no buzz in this book. I definitely would NOT recommend this book.

Little to No Buzz: It was okay. Really didn't have much buzz going for this book. This book wasn't completely horrible but it still wasn't my cup tea. I would not recommend this book.

Some Minor Buzz: It was just good. Definitely wasn't great but not horrible either. I had some problems with this book but was still mildly enjoyable. I would maybe recommend this book.

Some Major Buzz: It was really good. I enjoyed this book a lot but it didn't quite hit the buzz factor. Still, a wonderful book and would recommend.

The Buzz Factor: It was AMAZING. This is the book that's worthy of an award. It's the book that sucks you in where you're incapable of doing anything remotely productive because your eyes are super-glued to the pages. I HIGHLY recommend this book.  

What do you think? Do you like it? Anything I should do different? :)