Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

Will Elise’s love life be an epic win or an epic fail?

At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:

As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.

As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.

When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.

Title: Epic Fail

Author: Claire LaZebnik

Publication: 02nd August 2011

Publisher: Harper Teen

288 pages

My review

A cute romance, a sweet love story, an enthralling and funny plot, here is what is waiting for you in Epic Fail. This novel is the perfect summer book, if you're looking for something refreshing, delightful and entertaining you should definitively check out this one. It will offer you a pleasant and enjoyable read. This book keeps Pride and Prejudice's plot, but it also manages to be quite different and unique. Claire LaZebnik manages to create her own story and she even made me forget the original novel.

I had no trouble at all to dive into the story and I read it really fast as I wanted to know the rest of the story. The plot is fast-paced, well-written and interesting, with many twists. Even if the whole story is fairly predictable that does not stop me from spending a wonderful time with it. For me, it was a real pleasure to read it. Before starting this book, I wanted a funny, cute and interesting story, but also a quick-read and I must say that Epic Fail has totally met my expectations and even surpassed them.

Claire LaZebnik's writing is totally smooth, pleasant and often full of humor. The action is interesting, fast-paced and well-written. She managed to surprise me and I did not expect some events. The characters are endearing whether it's Elise, her sisters or Derek. Elise has a sharp tongue and I often laughed or smiled at her adventures. Finally, Derek is really charming and I may have fallen in love with him.

To sum up, if you are looking for a serious novel, then this book is not for you. However, if you like Pride and Prejudice, if you want a summer reading, a cute love story, often funny, then Epic Fail is exactly what you need and you should check this one out. I read it really fast, it was refreshing, light and delightful. It put me in a good mood and I now want to read Claire LaZebnik's other books. 

A Month In Review [August 2011]

Here are all the books I've read in August. I'm sorry I don't have the time to add the links to my reviews, but I'll do it as soon as possible.

Waiting on Wednesday : Legend

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting.

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Title: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Publication: 29th November 2011

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

336 pages

Why am I waiting for this book? Because I love dystopias and this one sounds awesome. I've read the first pages and I really loved it so I can't wait to know the rest of the story.

Happy reading and see you next week :) 

In My Mailbox ! [12]

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie. Every Sundays I'll post what books I've received. I already did In My Mailbox on my French blog but I'll try to do it here also.

Bought: Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales

Happy reading and see you next week :)

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

Title: Supernaturally {Paranormalcy, book 2}

Author: Kiersten White

Publication: 26th July 2011

Publisher: Harper Teen

336 pages

This book is the second instalment of a trilogy.

My review

I utterly loved the first instalment, Paranormalcy. So I had huge expectations for Supernaturally. I'm not disappointed in this sequel, but I am somehow perhaps less convinced than with the first one and I preferred Paranormalcy to Supernaturally. This book starts quickly with a lot of action and humor. Then, things slow down a bit and it took me a while to finish it. Fortunately when we approach the end of the book things accelerate and I'm now looking forward to reading the last instalment, it will be really hard to wait until next year.

Supernaturally is perhaps a little less funny than the first one, but there are still a lot of funny moments, especially in the beginning of the plot. The action is still well-present and surprises are numerous. I had a few surprises and some passages were quite unexpected for me.

This second instalment focuses more on the questions left pending after Paranormalcy. We learn more about Lend, IPCA and obviously Evie. Many questions are answered and it may be why this book is perhaps a bit slower than the first one.

Evie remains true to herself. She is still as funny, quirky (especially for her love of lockers), witty and sarcastic. Once again, she is brave and she has a sharp tongue. She makes more mistakes (sometimes a bit stupid) than in the first instalment. Lend is less present in this sequel, but he is still as charming. I must admit that I missed him a little. We also meet new characters, but I will let you discover them.

Kiersten White's writing is once again a pleasure to read. I really love how she writes as well as Evie, who has a very special voice, of her own. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the writing is very successful, light, funny and often captivating. If the pace is perhaps a bit slower and I took my time to read it, interspersed with several other readings, I never get bored and I was pleased to find the answers to some of my questions.

To sum up, although this second instalment was a little less delightful than the first one it was nonetheless an excellent read, full of twists and supernatural creatures. Kiersten White's writing and Evie's voice, are funny and pleasant, I liked them a lot and now I'm really looking forward to reading the last instalment Endlessly next year.

White Cat by Holly Black {Curse Workers}

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila.

Title: White Cat {Curse Workers, book 1}

Author: Holly Black

Publication: 4th May 2010

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

310 pages

This book is the first of a trilogy.

My review

White Cat is the first instalment of a trilogy. It offers us a pleasant read, and it's a rather innovative book. The universe created by Holly Black is quite dark. In her world, which looks a lot like ours, some people want to use magic when some others don't and it is mainly governed by the crime. In the beginning I had a few difficulties to relate with Cassel and sympathize with him, but it didn't last and after a few pages I really enjoyed him and following his discoveries.

The narration is told from the point of view of Cassel, a young boy. It was really interesting to have the point of view of a boy, for once and it changes a little. White Cat doesn't focus on the romance at all, even if there is a tiny pinch, it's really not the main point of the story. The plot focuses on the atmosphere of this world and its discovery by the reader. I totally loved the mythology of this series, it was utterly interesting. Those who get the magic are not always good, on the contrary. Each wizard has a specialty, and they only need their hands, some specialties are more common than others and this gift is quite rare, and not widespread in the population.

The plot is interesting to follow, although it's at times a little too predictable. I really loved the atmosphere and the universe set up by Holly Black. Her writing is pleasant, smooth and it's sometimes tinged with a little humor, especially in the dialogues. Cassel's story is relatively dark and touching. I especially liked the mythology set up by the author. I think it's one of the big strengths of the story. Indeed, I found this totally original, uncommon and enthralling.

The plot is fairly fast-paced. It took me a few pages to fully dive into the world of White Cat, but after these few pages to get used to the atmosphere I was totally hooked and I couldn't put it down. It's totally different from the other young-adult novels that are released those days. The universe is quite dark, the characters are unusual and less wise and the mythology is totally uncommon.

To sum up, I totally enjoyed reading this novel and I especially liked the atmosphere. Even if I struggled a bit at the beginning to relate to Cassel, I particularly enjoyed the second half of the plot. Holly Black's writing is efficient, smooth and she manages to include her reader all along. Finally, White Cat ends on a cliffhanger and a final twist. So I think the sequel will be full of surprises and life won't be easier for our young hero. I'm now really looking forward to reading Red Glove.

Waiting on Wednesday: Fateful

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting.

It's about a servant girl named Tess in 1912, who wants to escape from the house where she works, and most particularly the lecherous young lord of the manor. But that's not her biggest problem. While on a voyage to America, where she plans to escape and start a new life, she meets Alec, who's ruggedly handsome, fabulously wealthy, intelligent and yet so clearly troubled that she'd rather not fall for him, but she does. That also is not her biggest problem. Alec, it turns out, is a werewolf ... one cursed to change every night, unless and until he surrenders his independence and joins the Brotherhood, a pack of violently misogynistic werewolves who have been tracking him for months. You'd think that would be their biggest problem, wouldn't you?

But no. Their biggest problem -- though they don't know it yet -- is that they're aboard the RMS Titanic.

Title: Fateful

Author: Claudia Gray

Publication: 13th September 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins

356 pages

Why am I waiting for this book? I love the cover, the synopsis and the Titanic's story. When I was younger it totally fascinated me. So this one sounds totally appealling for me. I'm really looking forward to reading it.

Happy reading and see you next week :)