Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

(Mini-Review)

Born Wicked 
Jessica Spotswood
Released: February 7th, 2012Pages: 330 (hardcover)Publisher: Putnam JuvenileSource: Unsolicited - Publisher

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship--or an early grave. 
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with six months to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate stars scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra. 
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood -- not even from each other.

The three Cahill sisters are witches, and only one mistake away from revealing themselves as such to society and the Brotherhood. Cate, our narrator, tries to keep her sisters safe and out of the public eye, but it can be tricky when her younger siblings seem to enjoy flaunting their magic for fun. Spotswood's writing excels with the Cahill sisters and their relationships with one another, and with the mysteries in the story. Each scene springs to life, and intriguing characters make this story all the more fascinating. Born Wicked is a wonderful debut with a surprising conclusion that will undoubtedly leave readers breathless and curious about the sequel. 
Highlights: One very intriguing twist at the end. The world Cate lives in seemed wonderfully developed alternate setting. Many characters (the Cahill sisters, Finn, Elena, Sachi, and Rory) in this story were intriguing enough to keep me invested in the story. The tension in the story - romantic tension, fearful tension - also made it difficult to stop reading. 
Lowlights: Slow start. Almost entirely predictable¹, and the romance seemed a bit rushed (but I did like the guy, so it didn't bother me too much). 
Rating: 

1 I tend to unravel how a book will end very early on. So, other people might find certain aspects more surprising than I did. 


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Image + Summary from Goodreads

Matched by Ally Condie

Book: Matched

Author: Ally Condie

Release: November 30th, 2010

Other: Novel's website 

Pages: 369

Source: Publicist & later bought hardcover

YA Book Queen's Summary: 

The seemingly perfect Society takes care of it's people. No one suffers, no one has too much or too little, and nothing is ever left to chance.

After eagerly awaiting to see who the Society matches her with, Cassia Reyes is relieved to see that it's one of her best friends, Xander. Except later on, when viewing what should be a microcard all about Xander, she sees another face where Xander's should be. Ky Markham's face.

Ky, who is so unlike Xander, is not the kind of person Cassia should be with, or even notice. Yet the more she spends time with him, the more she realizes that everything she thought she knew just might be wrong. The closer they get, the more Cassia pushes the Societies limits and rules. She'll have to decide how far she'd go for true love and the ability to decide for herself, even if it means defying every rule the Society has....  

Review: "I won't go gentle. I'll find a way to soar like the angels in the stories and I will find him." (Condie 320)

Matched is a dystopian novel I'll definitely be remembering for quite some time. Narrated in the first person present tense by Cassia, her story begins at the Matching Banquet. Her personality slowly shines throughout the chapters, and the uniqueness of the "perfected" Society is revealed with wonderful pacing. Condie managed to let other characters grow as well, and I don't think there was a single character that didn't interest and intrigue me. 

The writing in Matched is beautiful. At times, it felt enchanting, thoughtful and lyrical. Condie's words drew me into another world that felt real, and the story that resides inside such a stunning (and fitting) cover is bound to attract readers.

Matched essentially comes down to two things: love and choice. And yes, you absolutely should read this novel, especially if you enjoy thoughtful novels with a very believable romance. 

Highlights: Cassia's voice is completely engaging that I could spend weeks rereading this novel. Rarely do I read a novel where there is a love triangle that makes me struggle with deciding who the protagonist should end up with (just like in Andrea Cremer's debut, Nightshade). Both guys are truly different and they make sense with Cassia - that's the best thing I can ever say about a love triangle. This novel pulled at my heartstrings, and kept me eager for more with every word. 

Lowlights: There are just a few moments where the pacing slows, but I think that's where the magic of this story lies. It slows, keeping you captivated with every word, and picks up again. 

Rating:   

The Mark by Jen Nadol Review

Book: The Mark

Author: Jen Nadol
Age: Young Adult
Copy Provided By: Publisher
Summary:

If you had the power to cheat death, would you?

Sixteen-year-old Cassie Renfield has always seen the mark--a light glow reminiscent of candlelight--but it's not until she follows a man to his death that she understands what it means. Cassie can see when a person is marked for death. She doesn't know how or where, only when: today.

When the mark appears on Cassie's grandmother, she tries and fails to change her fate. The mark seems utterly useless, but Cassie can't ignore it. Desperate for answers, she searches her memories, her summer philosophy course, even her new boyfriend, Lucas, for any clue that might explain her ability. When she convinces Lucas of her power, he encourages her to test fate each time the mark appears. Cassie's not entirely sure she should use the mark like this, but with each occurrence, she finds answers she needs--answers she never expected.

Review: When I finished reading this, I was indeed left asking myself, "If you had the power to cheat death, would you?"

It's an interesting premise, and Nadol took the story places I wasn't expecting. Cassie, our protagonist, is a very likable character. Even when she was doing something I didn't really like, I still liked her. I admired her, for dealing with this ability. To know when someones death is coming, it's just so sad to even think about. Cassie has her moments of pure terror and sadness for these people she sees. I could really feel Cassie's struggle with knowing what will happen, and the difficulty she faces in whether or not it's her obligation to tell them.

Highlights: I loved that in the end, everything didn't really work out cookie-cutter perfect. Mistakes were made, relationships fell apart, new one's were formed, and Cassie is left with quite a few questions of her own.

Lowlights: I felt like the first few chapters were not entirely necessary, and a little bummed that the summary gives away what's going to happen in those chapters. I found myself reading through them with caution, waiting for what would eventually happen. I also really disliked Cassie's boyfriend, and I just couldn't help but rolling my eyes whenever he'd pop onto the page...which is weird.

Also, I just felt like something was missing from the story....but I'm not quite sure what. Maybe I needed more in general, since the novel's so short? The ending seemed pretty open as well, and the story is definitely in need of a sequel. 

Rating: