Hiatus

Due to deadlines and general business, I'm not getting enough reading done to post a review a week. Therefore I'm going on hiatus/ sporadic posting for a little while. I'll return when I actually have something to review.

The Madness Underneath by Maureen

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 290

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Released: 26th of February 2013
Other books in the Series: The Name of The Star

After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance.

But Rory's brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: She's become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades - the city's secret ghost-fighting police - are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it's too late.

What I Have to Say

I loved The Name of the Star so much, so obviously I was looking forward to this book a lot. It didn't disappoint me, but it didn't blow me away either. Although I didn't feel the sense of danger as much as I did with The Name of the Star. There was no point where I was generally worried about Rory. Which was what really built up the tension in The Name of the Star. 

What was really done well in this one was the emotion. There were moments that were really tragic, which is not something that you expect so much from Maureen Johnson. But she did it really, really well. 

Honestly I love this whole series. I want there to be another book, now! If you haven't read The Name of the Star yet, then what are you waiting for? And if you have, then read this one now! 

Legend by Marie Lu

Synopsis (From Goodreads) 

Pages: 304

Publisher: Penguin

Released: 2nd of February 2012 (first published: 29th of November 2011) 

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.

What I Have To Say

Another book that I've heard so much about. But the stuff I heard was not wrong in the slightest. This book was incredible! And another one that had me physically gasping. NOT A BOOK TO READ IN PUBLIC. Believe me! I read most of it on a train!

I loved Day's character so much. I mean, sassy bad boy, I was always going to! But I also loved June a lot. Both had interesting qualities that made them really good viewpoints to read. 

Another thing that I really, really thought was done well about this book was the romance. Too many books have romance that you just can't see. Or a love at first sight moment with the characters going on and on about how they feel about the other person. I'm not quite sure what was done differently in this one, but it felt so much more real and believable. 

Seriously. Read this book. Just do it.