Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead | Review

Discovered: Movie Trailer

Status: Read

Purchased: Kobo

Mode: E-Book

Goodreads Rating: **

Summary:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . . -Goodreads

In-Depth:
I thoroughly enjoy vampire tropes and was excited to begin the Vampire Academy. Thank goodness, I didn't jump in and purchase the boxed set because I didn't completely enjoy the first book.

I admit, I don't read many YA books that emphasize high school life. It's difficult for me to read from a heroine's POV that is fully in high school mode when my own gap between now and high school is increasing. However, the vampire world building and the intricacies of social and class hierarchy were truly fascinating.

My biggest and only problem with the book was Rose. Yes, I heard this character goes through extensive character development throughout the series (thank goodness), but she truly annoyed me in Vampire Academy. I know that her reckless and passionate behavior are causes of her being shadow-kissed, but that doesn't excuse the fact that she was a judgmental douche. And it's hard to relate and cheer-on a judgmental douche. I did not like her judgments of Natalie just because she was "plain and boring". I cringed when reading what she did to Mia, despite the fact that Mia was just as horrible. And I had to take a break after her horrible behavior with Christian. I don't care if she's a badass novice soon-to-be greatest Guardian of all. My admiration for a character is built on character, not action.

Reading from Rose's POV was so irritating that I hurried to finish the book just to be done with her. I'm still thinking about continuing with the series just to see how much Rose develops but not anytime soon.  

World After by Susan Ee | Review

Discovered: Goodreads

Status: Read

Purchased: Barnes & Noble Online

Mode: Paperback

Goodreads Rating: ****

Have you once imagined angels as ethereal cherubs, floating on cotton candy clouds? Well, the angels of World After will turn every perception you had upside down. 

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Synopsis:

After dipping her feet in the world of angels, Penryn attempts to recuperate her family with the fledgling human encampment called The Resistance. However the Youngs are too strange even for a group of apocalypse survivors. Paige has become a child-Frankenstein with a questionable appetite and Penryn's close encounter with death has people convinced that she's much closer to the devil. Also, her mother's continued psychotic shenanigans aren't exactly neighborly. Amid rising tensions, people capture Paige thinking she's a monster; however, chaos ensues as the angels' latest science experiment descends upon the encampment. The encampment is in shatters and Paige has disappeared. In order to get Paige back, Penryn must embark on another mission that takes her deeper into the schemes and politics of angels.

In Depth:

World After is fascinating due to its blend of science fiction and horror. Angels running mad-scientist experiments? Maddening! I would've never imagined such a scenario in the angel trope as such scenarios are usually found in science fiction and extraterrestrial books. Yet, the angels of World After are like a different species altogether. They're cold, ruthless, and sterile. Although Susan Ee's take on angels is refreshing, I personally believe she may have strayed a bit too far from the angel trope. If you ignore the small bit about Judgement Day, World After is another novel of extraterrestrial invasion and human experimentation. Fortunately, this issue did not divert my enjoyment from the book. I found the angels' agenda shocking and their politics intricate and surprisingly human.

Revisiting Penryn's POV was also a delight. She is a force to be reckoned with in the YA genre. In World After, her strength, bravery, and sass grew as she was bombarded with more apocalyptic dilemmas and obligations. But Susan Ee painfully reminds us that Penryn is not a robot. She is very human and very young. Her act of locking away her problems behind a steel door shows that she's clearly a girl who was forced to grow up too early.

Yes, Penryn is mature beyond her years but she still has a lot to learn, regarding the complexities of humanity and sisterhood. Don't get me wrong, Penryn is an amazing older sister but after Paige's change, she has a hard time reconciling her sisterly emotions and familial obligations. Her sisterly emotions have not caught up to her post-apocalypse logic as she learns that providing food and shelter are not all there is to being an older sister.

Penryn faces more apocalyptic dilemmas regarding her feelings for Raffe. I'm going to agree with other reviewers and bemoan the lack of Raffe in World After. C'mon, he the YA eye candy! Yet, I do like how Penryn and Raffe's relationship isn't as explosive as other YA couples. In many paranormal romances, characters get together with such eagerness despite the obvious taboo; however, Penryn and Raffe are slow and definitely wary of each other. There is definitely a lot trust building in both Angelfall and World After and I'm sure the character building/romance will be phenomenal once we progress with the series.

Angelfall Susan Ee | Review

Discovered: Goodreads

Status: Read

Purchased: Barnes & Noble Online

Mode: Paperback

Goodreads Rating: ****

Did you grow up in a Christian family or at least around one? If so, you probably heard about the Second Coming and Christian apocalypse. Susan Ee takes this religious expectation and fear and spins it into a YA epic of survival, family, and loyalty.

  

I began my summer with a vampire apocalypse and now I'm ending it with an angel apocalypse!

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Synopsis:

The world as Penryn knows it has come to an end. Angels, the ethereal creatures we've often dreamed of,  have descended from heaven and destroyed civilization. The surviving humans have scattered, some forming dangerous gangs, while angels parole our cities. The only thing on Penryn's mind is to keep her mentally unstable mother and disabled younger sister, Paige, alive while moving from point A to point B. However things go awry when she and her family get caught in a battle among angels. Paige is kidnapped and Penryn is stuck with the dying angel, Raffe. Now she must form an unlikely pact with her enemy in order to save Paige and keep her family together. Their mission takes them through the ruins of Silicon Valley and San Francisco as they try to come to terms with a world overrun with angels and other creatures that were never meant to dwell on earth.

In Depth:

If I can describe Angelfall with one word it would be refreshing. It's unbelievable how fast I finished the book. It easily eclipsed the primary book I was reading. Heck, it eclipsed work, food, and sleep.  I was an hour late to work because I couldn't get up in time after reading Angelfall until 3 in the morning. I was hooked! 

What's refreshing about the structure of Angelfall is that the chapters are short. Usually when a book has long chapters (25-40 pages) I need to take breaks before I start on another one. But the short chapters of Angelfall increased my pace. I just needed to read one more chapter, then another and another... and another. 

Penryn is a refreshing heroine. Sure, she's ruthless, brave, and sassy like many other YA heroines, but her interaction with Raffe is unique. I've read many badass heroines kind of wilt and soften when interacting with their male love interests; however Penryn is different. She  asserts her strength with Raffe by saving his ass multiple times, getting into fights, and throwing herself in danger for the ones she loves.  Although Raffe is the ancient and powerful angel, Penryn is stronger. 

Also, her overall goal is a refreshing change from the goals of other dystopia heroines. Many heroines are fighting to save the fate of humanity and bringing down an evil, all-powerful enemy. But Angelfall stands out with Penryn's less ambitious goals. She just wants to save her sister and keep her family together. She's accepted the fact that the world sucks and angels are hateful. Now she's going to deal by not budging from her very realistic priority. She's very human with realistic goals many young adults can relate to.

Lastly, I personally loved the Silicon Valley and San Francisco setting. Susan Ee does an amazing job describing the nature and culture of Northern California. I lived there for four years while in college, so it was startling to visualize such a familiar place flipped  upside down.

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I definitely recommend Angelfall to those looking for a unique take on YA dystopias and fallen angels.