Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini

- The Inheritance Cycle  #4
Release date: November 8th 2011
Published by: Alfred A. Knopf
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5/5 stars
Find it on: Goodreads, Amazon

It began with Eragon....It ends with Inheritance. Not so very long ago, Eragon--Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider--was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. 

Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.
Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chance. The Rider and his dragon have come farther than anyone dared to imagine. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaesia? And if so, at what cost?
This is the spellbinding conclusion to Christopher Paolini's worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.  

It took me 7 months to buy this book. I started new series, I read new novels, but I couldn't buy Inheritance, for a simple thing: The Inheritance Cycle is my favorite fantasy series, and I love it so much I just couldn't finish it. Perhaps it's a coward thing to do, but I spent all these months preparing myself for it to end. And now, I realize that it was nonsense. Had I read this book the day it was released, or two years from now, my reaction would've been the same.

People either love or hate The Inheritance Cycle. All fantasy series are like this, for the story is extremely detailed, and if you don't like this kind of thing, it'll be painful to read. I don't usually like this narration *one of the reasons I can't read The Lord of the Rings*, but Christopher Paolini's writing is unique. It's detailed without being slow; it's rich in vocabulary without looking forced; and most of all, it creates an atmosphere that traps the reader and doesn't let go. Once you start reading Paolini's book, you can't stop. A single chapter can pull you in Eragon's world, simply because of the narration, and the veracity of the characters' personality.

Eragon, Saphira, Arya, Glaedr, Nasuada, Roran, Murtagh... their personalities are so carefully constructed you have a clear image of each one, of each face, body, and expression, and it's not overwhelming. Paolini is that good of a writer. He can make you relate to all of the characters, understand every single person in this book, even the Urgals, who aren't supposed to be that deep. This incredible aspect extends to all of the races as well. Throughout the series, Paolini shows the reader the aspects of each race in Alagäesia, so in the ending, you also have a clear image of that. This, and Paolini's fantastic narration, only leads to a formidable world-building, one as strong as it can possibly be. The fight scenes, especially, are impossible to stop reading. It's like you can feel everything that's happening, and that's just astounding. I've never experienced this before.

Inheritance would've been perfect had not been for the ending. It was realistic and something I should've seen as a possibility before, but it disappointed me. It was understandable, and if fit the series perfectly, but... It just didn't work for me. I wanted to see more of Eragon and Arya's relationship, as friends, allies, and I didn't get that. Of course, they went as far as friends go, but since Paolini left clues of something else going on between them, I wanted this explored. I guess he didn't go down that road because this isn't a romance series, and I get that, but... it's the last book. I, as a fan, wanted just a little bit more.

This review is huge, but I can't put enough words with just two paragraphs. The Inheritance Cycle changed the way I look at a war, it changed the way I look at fantasy books, and I couldn't be more grateful. This is, perhaps, the most wonderful series I've read in my life, simply because it's good from the start till the ending, and it messes you up in infuriating ways. It makes you cry, laugh, root for the heroes, and feel desperate when something goes wrong. Even after all of this, I feel like I haven't done this series justice. It hurts to write this review, knowing that The Inheritance Cycle is over. Christopher Paolini is one of the most brilliant young authors out there, and to him, I can only say thank you.

Lover Unleashed, by J.R. Ward

- Black Dagger Brotherhood #9
Release date: March 29th 2011
Published by: NAL
Genre: Adult Fiction/ Urban Fantasy
Rating: 3/5 stars
Find it on: Goodreads, Amazon

Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, warrior cloth as her brother: A fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side… and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either.

When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can- and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous, secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night- like vampires- he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul.

As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide … just as a centuries old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in deadly jeopardy.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood is - was - one of my favorite urban fantasy series. The first three books were wonderful, the characters were engaging, the romance fierce, and J.R. Ward knew how to write a fantastic story. But then Lover Revealed came, and with it, a deep sense of hatred for the characters grew on me. I didn't like Butch, and I hated Marissa. The fifth book was better, but not as good as the first ones. And so on and on. The quality of this series has gone downhill ever since, and Lover Unleashed was no exception.

One of the most disturbing things I've realized as I was reading this book is that there is no plot whatsoever. J.R. Ward creates a lot of issues for the characters to deal with, we go along with them throughout the book, and that's it. The focus of this novel isn't on the characters and in the story, and that creates a huge problem: after a couple of chapters, it gets boring. So incredibly boring. I wanted some action, some kickass scenes and more development when it came to the romance. The author, however, focused this novel on a lot of characters, and I was lost. I didn't know who the main character was anymore.

I'm not saying Lover Unleashed is awful, and I'm not going to continue with the series. If anything, I'm more determined to prove that J.R. Ward is a good author, and that BDB can be fantastic even after 10 books. However, I'm disappointed with Lover Unleashed. The romance didn't hold my attention, Vishous and Jane did, and that's not good. I'm still reading Lover Reborn. Tohr is one of my favorite characters, and I wouldn't miss his book for anything.

--

Ps: I'm sorry I was so absent lately. I've been dealing with some personal issues, and I just wasn't in the mood to read anything, much less write reviews. I'm better now, but still, writing this review was incredibly difficult, so I apologize beforehand if I disappear mysteriously again o.O

When You Were Mine, by Rebecca Serle

Release date: May 1st 2012
Published by: Simon Pulse
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 4/5 stars
Find it on: Goodreads, Amazon

Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy… and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.

Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends…

I'm probably the only person in the entire planet that hasn't read Romeo and Juliet yet. I know the basics, but not the whole story. That said, When You Were Mine was, although an adorable book, not as intense as I thought it would be. I read Juliet Immortal a couple of months ago - yet another retelling of Romeo and Juliet -, and to be honest, I was a bit traumatized. That book wasn't bad - it was downright awful. So you can only imagine how hesitant I was to dive into this story. Fortunately, I wasn't disappointed. 

Rose's situation would be ridiculous if Rebecca Serle hadn't written it so well. After losing Rob, her best friend - and practically her boyfriend - to her beautiful cousin, Rose's heart is broken. Her emotions are all over the place, and the fact that Rob seems to be suddenly in love with Juliet doesn't help at all. Rose's family also has some history with Juliet's, and to top it all off, her best friends themselves are struggling with relationship issues. Rebecca Serle, like I mentioned earlier, has an incredible writing style, which, honestly, was the only thing that kept the plot from becoming something too dark.

The most admirable quality of this novel, however, are the characters. A stand-alone novel doesn't usually have a lot of character development, but in When You Were Mine, it blew me away. Rose, especially, changed so much throughout the story, that I barely recognized her in the end. A romantic element is also thrown into the mix, and that only enhanced Rose's beliefs and personality. I grew very fond of her.

When You Were Mine is a refreshing read, and even though I can't give it a 5-star rating - I didn't love it that much - I'd recommend this novel to everyone, even those - like me - who hasn't read Shakespeare's play yet. It was interesting, to say the least, to view things from Rosaline's point of view, to see Juliet and Romeo's romance differently. And now... I want to read the original play that much more.

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green

Release date: January 10th 2012
Published by: Dutton Books
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5/5 stars
Find it on: Goodreads, Amazon

 Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Everybody talked about John Green when The Fault in Our Stars came out, and honestly, I didn't know why. I mean, was this novel really that special? However, I was curious, and that's why I bought a copy and started reading it. And now I know why people loved this book so much. The Fault in Our Stars is a book about death, about life, and a lot more than that. 


Hazel, the main character, is easily someone I could become best friends with. She was honest, simple, and snarky. The kind of protagonist that can make you love the story just because of her. Cancer crushed her childhood dreams and expectations, and you can see that as the plot unravels. And when she meets Augustus Waters... well, that's when the book really pulls you in. Their relationship is at the same time fast and slow. Their dialogues were so constant in the chapters that I grew tired of it, all the while yearning for more. I honestly don't know how John Green made me feel that way, but he did, and only an extremely talented author has such power over the reader. 

It took me almost a week to figure out how to write this review, and even now, I'm struggling with it. Not because I had mixed feelings over the book, but because I was so overwhelmed by it, that my thoughts just flew out of my head. What I really loved about this novel isn't the romance that I just described, however. It's the way it's written. John Green writes fiction books, but The Fault in Our Stars was real, somehow. These characters, Hazel, her parents, Augustus, his parents... they were so real, and the situations they went through so realistic, that this felt like a diary, not a fiction book. 

John Green exposes the truth about cancer, things that we all know, but prefer to ignore it. A 16-year-old girl isn't courageous, and she isn't fighting the cancer bravely. She's suffering, and this disease, this awful disease, is destroying her from the inside out. It's not something brave, it's something painful that she has to endure because there isn't anything she can do about it. That's exactly how John Green portraits Hazel, and it changed a part of me. This beautiful novel is a story that not only opens your eyes; it changes you, makes you see everything so differently that you wonder why the human population haven't read this book yet. 

I know, now, why my Goodreads friends loved The Fault in Our Stars. I know, now, why John Green is considered one of the best authors in the world. To him, I can only say "thank you". And to every reader out there, I can only recommend this novel. It's an unforgettable ride.

Waiting On Wednesday #11

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's choice is:

House Rules (Chicagoland Vampires #7), by Chloe Neill
Publication date: February 2013, by NAL Penguin
- Add it on Goodreads

In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps.

At the tender age of 27, Merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle—and her metal —tested like never before.

It started with two . . . Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined.

I can't believe I've chosen this book, but the truth is, I'm crazy about this series, and even though Biting Cold, the sixth book, hasn't been released yet, I'm eager to get my hands on House Rules. I mean, seriously, it's the seventh book. And things are getting better and better... What's not to love about that?
I didn't like the cover, though... the model is too thin and her hair is black. Not like Merit at all... and to be honest, the cover looks so common, it's like I'm reading any other urban fantasy book, and Chicagoland Vamps is so much more than that <3

What are you waiting for this week? 

 

Tell me something tuesday #6

 

Tell me something Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Cambria Hebert, in which she asks us something, and we post our answer. And the question of the week is:

If you could spend a day with a book character, who would it be and what would you do?

That's actually a very interesting question. I could spend a day with a lot of characters, but from all of them, I think I would have to choose Merit, from the Chicagoland Vampires series, by Chloe Neill. Merit is funny, smart, and snarky. Her point of view is always refreshing and I honestly couldn't choose another person but Mer. 

She was attacked by a vampire on her university and saved by Ethan Sullivan, who turned her into one of their own. Mer is appointed as Sentinel of Cadogan House, and since book one, she's been struggling with her duties and her own emotions. She's grown so much since then, especially in Hard Bitten and Drink Deep. It's rare to see such a deep character development, both in the main character, and in the love interest, and Chloe Neil managed to write about both. 

The tricky question here is the second one. What would I do with a vampire warrior who loves to eat?

I'd probably take Merit to the best restaurant in town, and after that, she could take me on a tour in Cadogan House (hopefully the Master, Ethan Sullivan, would be inside. Wouldn't it be great if I got the chance to talk to him?). I'm hoping she'd show me how to throw a few punches and sword-fighting moves, and we'd spare a little. Too much of a dream, but a girl has to try. 

So that's my answer. If I had the chance to choose another character, that would be Jace, from The Mortal Instruments. Who wouldn't want to spend a day with him? Seriously. 

What about you, what's your answer to this question? :D

Showcase Sunday #2

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books, Biscuits, and Tea, inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and The Story Siren. Its aim is to highlight our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week.

•  Clicking on the titles will take you to the book's Goodreads page.

Taste, by Kate Evangelista

Taken at Dusk, by C.C. Hunter (Shadow Falls Camp #3)

Enchanted, by Alethea Kontis

Lover Unleashed, by J.R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood) - In Portuguese

Clockwork Angel, by Cassandra Clare - In Portuguese

I honestly cannot wait to read all these books. I already read Clockwork Angel in English last year, but I'll re-read it soon. 

Well, what did you get this week? :D