Book Review: Asylum by Madeleine Roux

Title: Asylum (Asylum #1)

Author: Madeleine Roux

Release date: August 20th 2013 by HarperTeen
Pages: 313
Genres: Horror, paranormal
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Source: Bought

Synopsis:

Asylum is a thrilling and creepy photo-novel perfect for fans of the New York Times bestseller Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.

As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.

(taken from goodreads)

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Book Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2)

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

Pages: 528

Publication date: October 23rd 2012

My rating: 4/ 5 stars

Synopsis:

Mara Dyer believes life can't get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can. 

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. 

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. 

She's wrong.

(taken from goodreads)

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Book Review: "The Archived" by Victoria Schwab

Title: The Archived

Author: Victoria Schwab

Pages: 328

Publisher: Hyperion

Publication date: January 22nd 2013

Rating: 5/ 5

Synopsis:

The dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead, called 'Histories', rest in the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper is dangerous and a constant reminder of those she lost, Da and her little brother. Mac wonders about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. Yet someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

(taken from goodreads)

                                                     Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Review:

If there is one thing I regret, its definitely not reading any Victoria Schawb sooner. This book will always hold a special place in my heart because it was truly mesmerizing and had me compelled and intriguied at all times. The story starts with our main character Mackenzie, who is now moving into The Coronado, a hotel-turned-apatment building. With the hear-shattering memory of their son's death, Mac's parents decide that a move is the closest thing they can get to a new fresh start. Everything gets interesting really early in the book when we learn that Mac forms part of what is known as the Archived. This is the place were people's histories (their bodies) are kept after they die. There are also the Narrows, which are like halls were sometimes histories escape to when they accidentally wake up- they're like an "inbetween" . These histories ares sent back to the Archived by a Keeper. Which is the position that our main character holds.

The originality of this book is outstanding. I have never read a book like this one before, much less one that had me so engrossed. All of the fantasy-esque and paranormal elements were on point. And i just loved how it read kind of like a contemporary but with all of these crazy twists. Sometime when reading books that feature such elements, they sometimes tend to feel a bit too unbelievable. I mean, it is obviously fiction, but it is possible to create/write about  fictional characters and their worlds, while still giving them some present credibility. Not many authors, I find, can do that. Or at least not many that I know about. Victoria Schwab, however, seems to have that talent. Every single page in this book is proof of that. Her writing is somewhat magical and it will have you glued to the pages. Every single aspect of this book - and it's plot- was exquisitely written. Nothing felt out of place nor rushed, hence the pacing was just right.

As for the characters, I couldn't have asked for more. They were all so intricate and fascinating. Especially those who formed part of the Archived. Like I said, this book had me mesmerized. Also, the main character is one of the most kick-ass female leads that i have ever read about. I admired both her personality and her strength. Wesley, who is like the main male character, was so cool! He was also very cute and swoon-worthy.

Lastly, I want to mention the amazing imagery in this book. Everything was described so vividly without being overly detailed. I truly resent not having read any of Victoria Schwab's work sooner This book became an instant-favorite!

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Book Review: "Rebel Belle" by Rachel Hawkins

Synopsis:

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.
With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.
  (taken from goodreads)

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