Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Release Date: January 3^rd 2012

Publisher: Philomel

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 406 pages

Source: Library

Series: 3

Calla has always welcomed war. 

But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is.

This book was awesome, though I got a little confused on what happened at the end. But that’s ok because that fact doesn’t take away from the awesomeness of this book.

This trilogy has been great. It is my only werewolf books I read (besides twilight) and I don’t think anything will top this series.

The writing is just beautiful, full of imagery and action without making me bored. All the characters had strong presence in this novel. I think the author knew that us, readers, didn’t just like the main three characters (Calla, Ren and Shay), but we also love the 'minor' characters because in this book their presence was equal and of course, as always I loved all the characters because they were different from each other. They are unique and outstanding.

The plot was…war-ish and battle-ish. I won't spoil it to anyone who haven’t even started the series yet. But oh my! Andrea has this skillful way of making me read her 400 pages long book with sleep invading my eyes.

Finally, I want to say that I am truly sad that this series had ended so quickly. Its special to my heart because I did a presentation on NightShade for my IMC class and BloodRose just came 6 month after the release of Wolfsbane. So really, it ended so quickly.

But at the same time, I am happy and excited because I expect a lot from Andrea upcoming projects.  

Book Review: Between Shades of Gray

Heyhihello

I shall review a book titled "Between Shade of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys.

Release Date: March 22^nd 2011
Publisher: Philomel Books
Source: Library
The description of the book: 

Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.
Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously—and at great risk—documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

My review:

The length of the journey that a reader has to go through in this book is just exhausting and heart breaking. "Between Shade of Gray" put a spotlight on a part of history that went missing. A part that kept hidden from 1941 to 1990.

The book takes place during the Second World War in Lithuania and how people were treated like animals. The book is narrated by Lina who is 15 years old and who loves drawing. She was taken by the NKVD along with her mother and brother. Lina kept drawing as a way to communicate with her dad.

From the first moment, you start feeling sorry for Lina. How she had to face all these hardships in order to survive. How she was too young compared to the challenges she had to face. Lina and her family would work so hard for some bread to eat. But I loved her sprit. She knew the ending of this torture was coming soon. Even if it took her 12 years. Lina's mother was my favorite character. She was strong in front of her children and sacrificed a lot for them.

It wouldn’t be a YA if there was no love interest. The relationship between Lina and Andrius was a beautiful thing. Under all these conditions that they had to live through, there were able to love and help each other.

Reading a YA that is full of historical events and facts is just so amazing because you are teaching readers about history in the way they like it. Because otherwise who would want to know who died and who survived unless it was written well.  

Overall, I think Ruta's book was very informative and educational. Not to mention that it was heartbreaking but also it strengthens your soul at the same time. It makes you think about current events and makes you wonder where on earth the-treatments-of-humans-like-animals is happening. It takes YA genre to a whole new level.  

Tata for now