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The Story Siren

The Story Siren

Hey! It's me Kristi. Thanks for checking for checking out my shelf! Yes, I love to read!

I also review books, mostly young adult. Check out my blog at www.thestorysiren.com

I'm not very active on Shelfari anymore and a rarely update my shelf. If you want look me up on GoodReads.com! That's my new bookish home. more »
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  • member since January 12 2008

Reviews

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Displaying 1-10 of 155 reviews
  • Fabulous Terrible: one (Choose Your Own Adventure: Fabulous Terrible) (Choose Your Own Adventure)
    • Rated 3 stars

    I was really disappointed when I found out this book was not a “choose your own adventure” book, but merely a novel written in the second person. I was so disappointed that I had to stop reading, to stew/pout/sulk over my disappointment. I was expecting to have at least some interaction within the novel.

    Thankfully the second person narration wasn’t as distracting as I thought it would be, but I still think the story would have been more effective told from a first person perspective. Okay, so maybe I’m still bitter about it not being a “choose your own adventure” novel, but I was really excited about choosing my own adventure.

    The plot itself was interesting, although I found it to be slow at times. The most action happens in the last twenty pages or so, making the ending fly by for me. The writing itself was excellent, I was really impressed. Good characters, check. Eerie mystery, check. Entertaining, check. Despite my lackluster review, I’ll most likely be picking up the second novel in this series.

    The Story Siren wrote this review Thursday, November 27 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Untamed
    • Rated 3 stars

    The House of Night series is unlike any other vampire series I’ve read. I really enjoy the series and it’s interpretation of vampires. I’m especialy looking forward to reading the next novel.

    I was disappointed in Untamed. After reading all of the previous novels and immensely enjoying them, Untamed fell short of the standard that had been set. Most of the novel was spent on explaining what happened in the previous three novels, and while I understand how that can be necessary, it took up valuable room in this novel that could have been used for things much more exciting. Like Zoey making out with Erik....

    Despite its rough spots and flaws, I still was unable to put this book down! The combo writing team of P.C. and Kristin remained true to their signature style! Drama, suspense and humor, all present and accounted for! There were a few grammatical errors that I was surprised to find, but I think that shouldn’t have precedent over enjoying the novel.

    I was also surprised with the direction the authors have taken with the character Aphrodite, and I can’t wait to see what happens to her! And while there were a lot of questions answered within the novel, there were also slews of unanswered questions introduced. If you’re a fan of the series, you won’t want to miss this one.

    The Story Siren wrote this review Thursday, November 27 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Gossip Girl, The Carlyles #2: You Just Can't Get Enough (Gossip Girl, the Carlyles)
    • Rated 3 stars

    How can something so wrong.... be so much fun!
    I was never interested in reading Gossip Girl, which is why I’ve never read the first series and I’ve never watched the television show. I’d actually like to watch the tv show, but for some reason my satellite doesn’t get that channel! Anyway... like I said I never had an interest to read the Gossip Girls series. I assumed they would be some pathetic pieces of trashy literature. Cat fights, drama, shallow people... why would I want to read about that? Uh... because it’s addicting and fun that’s why!
    I am addicted. I love the cat fight, the drama and the shallow people! It’s just like high school, but better because I don’t have to witness all that shit personally. I can turn it off when I want to. And really the writing isn’t trashy at all, the characters... maybe, but not the writing.
    Again like with Poseur all the trendy name dropping doesn’t do anything for me and really I don’t care what they are wearing. I just want to know who’s with whom and who’s pissed off about it. I like it steamy, I like it dirty. Yeah, I said I like it dirty.

    You know you love me,
    The Story Siren

    The Story Siren wrote this review Thursday, November 27 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Girls Inc. Presents: You're Amazing!: A No-Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self
    • Rated 5 stars

    I’m not a big ambassador of self help books, not that I have something against them. Because I don’t. I’ve just never had the need for one, since I’m just about as perfect as you can be! Okay so maybe I exaggerated a little bit, okay A LOT!

    With all kidding aside though, this book was great! I would have loved to have had access to it when I was younger. It has helpful suggestions and tips for just about everything, but at the same time it doesn’t make you feel bad about being the person you are! It’s brilliant!

    Having problems with stress, there’s a section for that! Questions about relationships, it’s in there too! I loved the real life examples, they made me feel less like a freak! It’s a fun, read! Yes, fun! I learned a multitude of things and it was fun doing it. I feel like a better person just having read this guide.

    The Story Siren wrote this review Saturday, November 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Moonstone

    Moonstone

    by Marilee Brothers
    • Rated 3 stars

    I have mixed feelings about this novel. There were quite a few things that bothered me, but somehow I still felt like I enjoyed reading it. Which truthfully doesn’t happen often. I think my biggest problem was that I didn’t particularly like any of the characters. Allie started growing on me towards the end, but her mother... don’t even get me started. And the whole Junior thing, I guess I don’t get it.

    I also don’t get why Trilby was even in this novel? Perhaps she has a bigger role in the rest of the series, although I can’t see how that will work. Basically Trilby is supposed to be her guardian angel or something like that. But all she does is reconfirm what we already know is going on. “Allie you’re in danger, Watch your back” Yeah, no shit Trilby, thanks for the heads up but Allie got that all figured out about two pages ago. It was a little bit overkill and a bit annoying. I think the only reason Trilby was in the novel is so we would know who she was from the prophecy, but we don’t really need to “know” her. Complete overkill.

    The plot was interesting enough, it kept me turning the pages, I will say that much. I felt as though there were a few points that needed to be fully developed, and I expect that Brothers plans to do just that in the next novel. Despite the few difficulties I had, I may be tempted to pick up the next novel in the Unbidden Magic series.

    The Story Siren wrote this review Saturday, November 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Poseur #2: The Good, the Fab, and the Ugly
    • Rated 4 stars

    I don’t know why I love this series but I do. I’m not particularly interested in fashion, okay honestly I’m not interested in it at all. And the whole premise of this book is a fashion designing foursome. Christian Louboutin, Narcisco Rodriguez, Chopard... these words, they mean nothing to me. And yet, I can’t stop turning the pages. I even stashed this book in my purse in case I had a wait at the polls... which I didn’t! DANG IT!

    I don’t particularly love any of the characters. But I still crave their story! How can Janie not know that Evan likes her!? Are Charlotte and Jake ever going to get back together!? And Petra has a midnight rendevous! This book was rolling in the boy drama. And if you must have drama at least make it boy drama!

    It’s a fun and of course fabulous read! I can’t wait until the next title in the series Petty in Pink! Unfortunately it doesn’t hit the shelves until July 2009.

    The Story Siren wrote this review Saturday, November 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • A Blue Bloods Novel: Revelations
    • Rated 5 stars

    This series is one of my very favorites. I do not recommend reading this series out of order! There are key plot points you will be missing if you do. I have to say that although I immensely enjoyed this novel, I wish it had been longer. De la Cruz packed so much into the measly 264 pages, it was almost overwhelming.

    I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say that there are more twists in this novel than one of those soft pretzels... mmm with salt and gooey cheese. I barely had time to recover from the shock from one twist before another was thrown in my face. While that kept the novel moving right along, it also left a slightly sour taste in my mouth.

    But don’t get me wrong, I gobbled this book right up, it was great! I just think it could have been so much more! Thank goodness de la Cruz’s signature writing style is still intact! I love her story telling ability. I get so engrossed in her writing that I don’t realize the pages are flying by.

    The new insight into the characters was interesting to say the least. Jack sort of freaks me out now. You just never know if he wants to um... do you or kill you. Freaky! And Ollie, I thought he was so innocent and sweet always in love with his best friend even though she was oblivious to the idea.... his confession totally changed my perspective on him. I’m not even going to comment on Bliss. Just wait.

    There are so many unanswered questions in this novel. I’m dying to see what happens next.

    The Story Siren wrote this review Saturday, November 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Shadow Kiss
    • Rated 5 stars

    Incredible! This series continues to get better. This is one of the best vampire themed series’ out there. After my disappointment with other series’ losing there touch, I have to say that it is not the case with these books. Everything that initially drew me in is still there and then some. I’ve been in anticipation for this book for a long time, and when I finally got a copy it trumped everything else!

    There were parts of the story that I figured out, and even though I wanted the novel to end one way, I applaud Mead’s unpredictability. Does that sentence totally contradict itself?? Let me see if I can explain. In my quest to keep this spoiler free it may be more difficult, but here it goes. I knew that something big was going to happen to one of the characters in this novel. The clues where there the foreshadowing was set up wonderfully. And even though I had an idea of what was going to happen, Mead was still able to surprise me in the end. Why? Because, I never really thought she would do it. The ending wasn’t what I wanted I’ll admit that, but I don’t think I would have been happy with it being any other way.

    One of the reasons I’m such a fan of this novel, besides the extraordinary writing ability of Richelle Mead, is Rose Hathaway. Let me just tell you how much I love Rose. She’s beautiful, smart, confident, she’s a smart ass and she kicks ass. I want to be her. She is one of my all time favorite literary characters.

    I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of this series.

    The Story Siren wrote this review Saturday, November 15 2008. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink )
  • The Emerald Tablet
    • Rated 4 stars

    What a fantastic debut novel! I really can’t wait to read the rest of this series. Atlantis has always been something I’ve found fascinating the whole basis of the mythology surrounding it... does it really exist, or is it a load of bull. I’ve read about it fictional literature and I have to say that I loved Hoover’s take on it!

    Supreme beings capable of telekinesis, telepathy and teleportation! Hiding Lemuria in the “Ring of Fire and extremely cool gadgets like the Geodine, simply brilliant! My only complaint is that I wish the characters would have wowed me as much as the fantasy world that Hoover created did. Not that I didn’t like the characters, but sometimes I find them to be a little flat. Something I’m hoping to remedy as the series continues.

    I also liked the fact that even though this was a fantasy novel, I never once rolled my eyes and thought that would never happen. Hoover remained true to the limitations she created in her world and on her characters and that was greatly appreciated! The solutions to the problems they faced were realistic and their solutions where more than satisfactory.

    And although the ending leaves a lot to be explored I was still happy with the conclusion of the novel! A fun, fast-paced and extraordinary read!

    The Story Siren wrote this review Monday, November 3 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Living Dead Girl

    Living Dead Girl

    by Elizabeth Scott
    • Rated 4 stars

    Elizabeth Scott is a genius. A literary genius. I’ve read some of Elizabeth’s other titles, and I find myself wondering, how can these be written by the same person. And I don’t mean that in a Stephenie Meyer/Breaking Dawn way. To have that kind of diverse talent, it is simply effing amazing.

    I read this book in one setting. It is truly powerful. The emotion– sadness, despair it’s so apparent it’s freaky. How can I say that I loved a book about abduction, sexual abuse, and suffering? Why do you look out your car window when you drive by the scene of an accident, do you want to see a dead, possibly mutilated body? But I did, I loved it. It was a masterpiece. And not because of what it was about, but because of how it made me feel.

    It’s gripping, enthralling and completely horrifying. The most disturbing parts aren’t even written, but left to the reader to fill in the sickening details. I’ve read suggestions that this book shouldn’t be targeted to a teen audience. Why? Because ignorance is bliss? Because we don’t need to add to the things that teenagers are desensitized from? Don’t worry if you ignore the situation it will go away. That’s how our society deals with those things, right? Just sweep it under the rug. No one will have to know that the world is a dirty place. Do you ever have one of those moments where you want to let out a good frustrated scream... yeah, this is one of those times....

    Elizabeth Scott you’re my hero.

    The Story Siren wrote this review Monday, November 3 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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