Mini Reviews: Crash by Lisa McMann and What Really Happened in Peru by Cassandra Clare

Title: Crash
Author: Lisa McMann
Series: Visions #1
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date Published: January 8, 2013
Buy: Amazon

The only books I’ve read by the author other than this one are the first two books in the Dream Catchers series. The two books are similar in some ways but different in others, I want to compare the two but I cannot seem to. I want to say Crash is better but then I remember something equally good about Fade or Wake. I did give this one a higher rating though by 0.5 because of the ending. Lisa is full of surprises. Her books are original in ways you won’t find in the YA genre and I love her for it. 

Jules is a great character, she is determined and hardworking and smart and makes good choices. Even though Jules is in love with Sawyer, she never acts like a jealous or insecure person, whereas Janie (the main character from the Dream Catchers series) was slightly insecure. Her determination is evident from the fact that even when Sawyer was clearly telling her to let it go, she didn’t, she didn’t care about what he thought, she had to do it for herself if not for him and so it was her decision in the end. The plot is great and so are the other characters, I recommend this book to everyone.

Title: What Really Happened in Peru
Author: Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: The Bane Chronicles #1
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Date Published: April 16, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Oh Magnus. I am so excited for the rest of his tales. I think it might be possible that this set of short series becomes my favorite.

It's nice to learn more about Magnus. He is a charming, funny guy but he has his own set of insecurities. In the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices you don't really see the other side of him. We all assume him to be a happy guy and that's exactly what Magnus wants. He hides from his own insecurities because he doesn't know how to face them. What he wants is for someone to appreciate him for who he is. His mother committed suicide after she found out what she was and most of his human lovers give up on him after a while. It's not that nice of a life.

Ha, I make this short story sound sad but it's not, it's hilarious because common it's Magnus, he is always going to make things awesome because that's what he does. 

Although I really do hope things work out for him and Alec in CoHF because Magnus (and Alec) deserves it. He deserves a chance.

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Unspoken
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: The Lynburn Legacy #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: September 13, 2012
Buy: Amazon

Goodreads Summary

Kami Glass is in love with someone she’s never met – a boy the rest of the world is convinced is imaginary. This has made her an outsider in the sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale, but she doesn’t complain. She runs the school newspaper and keeps to herself for the most part – until disturbing events begin to happen. There has been screaming in the woods and the dark, abandoned manor on the hill overlooking the town has lit up for the first time in 10 years. The Lynburn family, who ruled the town a generation ago and who all left without warning, have returned. As Kami starts to investigate for the paper, she finds out that the town she has loved all her life is hiding a multitude of secrets- and a murderer- and the key to it all just might be the boy in her head. The boy who everyone thought was imaginary may be real…and he may be dangerous.

I went into this book thinking it was going to be a romance. I mean  with that summary there isn’t anything else you are going to think. This is why I get pissed at goodreads summaries from time to time. They make so many of the books sound more romantic than they actually are. I could make a list of all the books I was tricked into thinking were overly romantic and didn’t want to read. No. I do like romances but I don’t like reading a book that is focused primarily on the romance (unless you count chic lits but I don’t read them THAT often, only when I need to chill). I like books with amazing plots. This book had one. I don’t think saying this book blew my mind is enough, it would have blown my mind if I had high expectations, I had low expectations because I went into the book thinking it was primarily a romance, to say it blew my mind is understating what it did to me.

I thought  Kami would be a pathetic love sick teenager. I was so far of the mark it’s not even funny. She is one of my all time favorite female leads. She is hard working, dedicated, loyal and absolutely hilarious. This book had the whole gothic feel to it, yet it was also light because of Kami’s humor.

I admire Kami for not letting other people's opinions influence her own. She hears horrible things about Jared and even when everybody tells her to stay away from him she doesn’t. How could she when she knows him better than everyone else? Even WHEN she doubts him she sticks by him because how could she not?

Oh yeah and umm yes I suck but one of the best things about this book was Jared. I am absolutely in love with him. It’s so funny how he is scared to touch her, It annoyed me when I was reading the book but now I am just like.. oh Jared. Yes a lot of people are annoyed with Jared’s behavior at the end of the book. I was sad about it but I get why he did it. Throughout most of the book I just wanted to cuddle with him and slap him mom for being such a bitch (yes I am swearing but I really hated his mother, any other word would be too nice for her). What kind of mom tries to convince other people that her son is not worth saving? If you don’t want to bloody care for him don't try to stop other people at least!

Now back to the story. The plot is awesome as I mentioned early on. I actually had no idea what paranormal creatures this book involved so when I did find out I was surprised. I am glad I got to be surprised about that one thing because, you know, being surprised is fun. If you went into the book knowing everything then what would be the point?

I loved the mystery behind the Lynburns but oh my god, THAT ENDING! Why the hell did I have to read this book so soon after it released? Now all I have is snippets from the sequel to survive on and even those aren’t good enough. They break my heart.

I am counting down the days to the sequel and also even if it does have a love triangle I am going to read it because the first book was  THAT bloody awesome. No I don’t want one. I don’t want one so bad it hurts. BUT I will read it nevertheless because of Jared.