EvilEva Reviews... Moby Clique

Last month I reviewed the first two books of the Bard Academy trilogy for my TBR challenge. Here's my review of the final book, Moby Clique.

Warning!

This is the third book in the series so this review may contain spoilers!

EvilEva reviews...... Moby Clique by Cara Lockwood. 

Miranda Tate is actually looking forward to starting her junior year at Bard Academy, a reform school that doubles as purgatory for famous dead authors. Her sunny outlook changes however when her sister Lindsay wrecks their dad's car, an offense that lands her at Bard as well.
And of course, Lindsay wants to be in the clique of Parker Rodham, resident mean girl and Miranda's nemesis. With Lindsay being a total Parker kiss-ass, a teacher brown-noser, and president of the Ryan Kent (ahem, Miranda's ex) fan club, Miranda is so over her sister's foray into badness.
Then Lindsay disappears. Miranda suspects Lindsay may have been tricked by Parker into finding a hidden cove that may contain a long lost treasure. But Lindsay doesn't know the dangers of the woods or the secrets that they hide. She could be in serious trouble. So, once again, it's up to Miranda and her friends to save the day.

Y'all know that I love Cara Lockwood. Her chick-lit totally rocks my socks. But this Bard Academy, I just don't know. I liked the first two books ok but Moby Clique, well, it seemed kinda sloppy. There are pirates and kidnapped students and mention of a buried treasure and yet none of this has anything to do with the plot of this book. It was just kinda stated and then pushed aside.
I mentioned in my previous post that this series is too crammed full with stuff. A case of too many cooks in the kitchen.
Well this one actually didn't involve nearly the crazy shizz as the last two books but for me it still didn't work. Even with less chaos the story didn't flow well.
I found Miranda to be kind of annoying this time around. Her relationship with Heathcliff bugged the fuck out of me. I haven't really been a fan of Heathcliff's from the beginning but I found him even less swoonworthy here. Miranda seemed so cliched in this one. She would fall or slip or lose her grip and things would seem dire and then Heathcliff would swoop in (sometimes seemingly out of nowhere) and rescue her with his super strong, muscle-y arms. And yes, ladies, I know this can be swoon city sometimes. But when it happens like 20 times during 294 pages, well it's so not swoony anymore. I mean, a book ago our gal was facing down Dracula and a pyromaniac and now she can't even walk through a fucking forest without Heathcliff holding her hand?!?! WTF!?!?
Umm, sorry for that little rant.
Anyhoo, pretty much the only saving grace for this book was the badassness that is Blade. She's my total fave. She kicks ass, she takes names, she takes shit from no one, she's her own person and that person is awesome!
We did finally get to hear the real story behind Ryan's mysteriously dead girlfriend but the explanation was so ridick that I don't even wanna talk about it.
Plus, for the faculty to be comprised of FUCKING GHOSTS who can walk through walls and disappear from one area only to appear in another, they were particularly useless in this "adventure."
So. I really wanted to like this series but, well, now I'm thinking I should just stick with Cara's chick-lit.

The Scale of Judgment says...... 2 and a half.

The TBR Back Burner Challenge: Round 9 Reviews

Since it's September and thus the start of a new school year I thought I'd kick it off with a series about a boarding school! Truth be told, I loves me a good boarding school story. I would probably feel a lot differently if I actually had to attend a boarding school but alas I was "poor" growing up and so I was shipped off to public school which isn't nearly as glamorous as I imagine boarding school to be. But we did have awesome foot-long hot dogs every few weeks! Do boarding schools have foot-long hot dogs? I like to think they don't. So yay public school for your long ass hot dogs! Anyway, here are my reviews for Cara Lockwood's Bard Academy series.   

EvilEva reviews...... Wuthering High by Cara Lockwood.

 
After crashing her dad's car and stealing her stepmom's credit cards, Miranda Tate is shipped off to Bard Academy, a boarding school for unruly teenagers.
Miranda so does not belong with these freaks, goths and other assorted delinquents. But she tries to make the best of it, you know, since she has no other choice.
But there's something very off about Bard.
There's a strange boy named Heathcliff who thinks he hails from Wuthering Heights and is semi-stalking Miranda, an occult-crazed roommate who swears a vampire is on the loose, a ghost story about a girl that disappeared in the woods that might actually be true, a group of very suspicious teachers, a crazy woman that starts fires, AND Miranda's crush from her old high school!
So yeah, something is definitely off. And even stranger, Miranda seems to be at the center of the off-ness which could put her in grave danger. But what's the connection between Miranda and this bizarre boarding school? And can she figure it out before it's too late?

This book is extremely crazyballs. There's just so much going on.
There's, of course, Miranda and her trials and tribulations, trying to survive in this new place in which she feels doesn't belong.
Add to that a nutty roommate, an oddball creepster, weird teachers, an arsonist, a ghost, a hot crush, daddy issues and dish duty and you get a whole lotta subplots. Maybe too many, especially considering there are two other Bard Academy books. 
As a main character, Miranda is semi-spoiled but she's not so bratty that it makes her unreadable or unlikable. She's got a snappy Juno-esque quality about her. And she has a few witty one-liners that made me laugh.
She also unconsciously forms her own Scooby gang courtesy of friends Hana, Samir and Blade. I liked their crew and wouldn't mind getting mixed up in a caper with them. Miranda's also lucky-ducky enough to have two guys vying for her attention. There's Ryan Kent, her crush from her previous high school who's got a secret of his own (mysteriously dead girlfriend, anyone?) And then there's Heathcliff, the strong silent type that always seems to be saving Miranda in one way or another. Oh and he might also be a fictional character come to life.
Bwhaaaaaaa?!?! Yeah, the premise of this book is kinda cray cray. And it's not what we're used to from Cara Lockwood but it's not complete suckage. It's a fun, light read that might just spur you to get interested in the classics.
My only complaint would be the last few chapters. It was like there were so many storylines and the author was trying to wrap all of them up at once. It felt kinda rushed to me. But, other than that, a fun, light read.
Now on to the next!

The Scale of Judgment says...... 3.

WARNING!

This is the second book in the series so this review may contain a few spoilers.

EvilEva reviews...... The Scarlet Letterman by Cara Lockwood.

Miranda & Co. are back for a second semester at Bard Academy, a boarding school for delinquents run by the ghosts of famous authors.
But if Miranda thought it was just gonna be sexytimes with her new boyfriend, the Ryan Kent, and fun with her besties, well, she's got another think coming.
Two teachers have mysteriously disappeared and Miranda's the main suspect! Now she's being shunned by the whole school and even worse, forced to wear a hideous red sweater vest of shame!
Can she prove her innocence, unmask the Hooded Sweatshirt Stalker, fight off A TIGER, find out if Heathcliff is still hanging around and keep Parker Rodham from stealing her boyfriend?
It's just another normal day at Bard Academy.

Mysteries abound yet again at Bard and Miranda and her friends seem to be the only ones who can solve them.
Coach H and Ms. W have vanished (Wait. Didn't they "vanish" in the last book too? Yes. Apparently out of the entire staff of Bard Academy, Coach H and Ms. W are the only ones that are kidnap-worthy.) Miranda becomes the prime suspect for, if you ask me, very stupid reasons.
Anyhoosies, much like the books semi-namesake, Miranda gets Hester Prynned. She has to wear a fugly red vest, she can't talk to anyone and no one is supposed to talk to her. But this shows the awesomeness that is Blade and Hana because they find a clever way to communicate with Miranda that is so very Nancy Drew. Their characters got more face time in this book and I'm glad because I needed them to balance out Miranda's wishy-washiness in the great debate of Ryan vs. Heathcliff. I mean, one is a basketball star and the other is a FICTIONAL CHARACTER, for Vaughn's sake! The answer should be fairly clear. Not that I myself don't loves me some fictional boys but I wouldn't pick them over a living, breathing, very much into me hot tottie. I may be nerdy but I ain't that nerdy. So Miranda kinda got on my nerves with that bullshizz.
The Scarlet Letterman is packed with just as much crazy business as Wuthering High. Again, maybe a little too much crazy.
There's the missing teachers, a campus shover, The Scarlet Vest Of Shame, boyfriend troubles, a shunning, Heathcliff, magical drawings and a motherfucking tiger!
So a lot going on.
These books aren't bad, they're just not up to snuff. And I'm a big fan of Cara Lockwood so I know her snuff is better than this.

The Scale of Judgment says...... 3.

Since the TBR Challenge is two books per month, I'll be reviewing the third and final book in the Bard series separately. So check back for my review of Moby Clique: coming soon.

EvilEva reviews... Mockingjay

EvilEva reviews...... Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.

The Hunger Games Trilogy. 

Warning! Spoilers!

Warning. This is the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy. There will be spoilers. If you haven't read the first two books stop here.


After Katniss is rescued from the Quarter Quell arena she is whisked off to a place she thought no longer existed. District 13. An underground community that was responsible for Katniss' exit from the Games. With the help of some District and Capitol insiders, they have planned a rebellion. It starts now. And Katniss is to be the symbol for the rebellion. Their very own Mockingjay. A sign of hope and freedom. The only problem is Katniss doesn't know if she can be everything they want her to be. And as someone that has been playing games for far too long, her trust has worn thin. Can she put her worry, her mistrust, and her anger away in time to save Peeta, her country and herself?

Well y'all, after 3 books, 9 parts, 81 chapters and 1155 pages I have finally finished The Hunger Games trilogy. And I must say, I loved every minute of it! The final book did not disappoint. In my opinion anyway. I've read a few blogs that weren't particularly thrilled with the end result. I, however, am not one of those bloggers. I thought that Mockingjay was just as amazing as Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I felt like it had the perfect mix of action, romance, uncertainty, thrills, chills, surprises and all of the other things needed to make a great book. I especially liked the amazing UNBELIEVABLE ending of chapter 26! (NO! Don't read ahead! Stop flipping pages! Get to it when you get to it and be as surprised as I was. I promise it'll be better if you don't peek!) I SO DID NOT see that coming! I thought it was a really good twist to the story though. And, obvs, I looooooved the ending! (KnowwhatI'msayin' teammates!) 
I felt that Mockingjay, on the whole, was a great way to wrap up the series. I think Suzanne Collins tied up all loose ends beautifully. I like when endings feel final, like there's no real need for another 8 million books to be written on the subject, but when there's also that little bit of lingering, like you can easily imagine that the characters are still there living, loving, moving forward. 
That being said, these three books are perfection. 
You should read them. Then get you friends to read them. Then get their friends to read them. Pull your own Oprah-BookClub-Magic with these books! 
They would be a great gift for the coming holiday season. And for anyone really. (I'm getting my 14 year old cousin started on them!) 
I'm a little bummed that my trip to Panem is over but hey, I've still got the movies to look forward to! 

The Scale of Judgment says...... 5!

EvilEva reviews... Catching Fire

EvilEva reviews...... Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.  

The Hunger Games Trilogy.

Warning! Spoilers!

Warning. This is the sequel to The Hunger Games. There will be spoilers. If you haven't read the first book STOP HERE!

After winning the Hunger Games by publicly defying the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have started their new lives in District 12. Living in the Victor's Village, having plenty of food and money, being safe. Or so the Capitol would like them to think. But Katniss knows that she is not safe, that she will never be safe. Her fears are confirmed when President Snow himself shows up at her home. Katniss and Peeta's defiance could cause an uprising, something that P. Snow is not down with. He doesn't believe the whole tragic star crossed lovers bit, at least not on Katniss' end. So while she and Peeta tour the other Districts she is to play up the romance, convince people that it was not defiance but true love. But Katniss is sick of the Capitol and their games and secretly longs for an uprising. President Snow, however, has ways of making sure Katniss will comply. Like having Gale killed. So with Gale's life hanging in the balance, Katniss and Peeta embark on their Victory Tour.
Things don't quite go as planned. There are rumblings of a rebellion. When Katniss and Peeta return to District 12 they find a new, harsher Peacekeeper, the Hob has been destroyed and the fence separating District 12 from the woods has been activated. As if that's not bad enough, they find out that they will now be forced to participate in the Quarter Quell.
The Quarter Quell happens, appropriately, every 25 years between Hunger Games. Always with a twist, this year former victors compete in an island/jungle arena covered with many hidden dangers as well as force fields that'll fry your ass if you're not careful. The rules are the same though. Survive at all costs.

Unlike the first book, Katniss finds herself with a whole host of allies this time around. But can she really trust them? This is the question that plagues her throughout the book. 
Her newfound "friends" and former winners of the HG include, Finnick, the athletic, attractive, adored wonderboy; Johanna, the hard-shelled gladiator girl; Beetee, the techno whiz; Wiress, Beetee's slightly off often brilliant District counterpart; and Mags, the hard to understand yet selfless elder of the bunch. But who can she count on and who is she willing to kill to ensure that her plan, of Peeta winning and taking on the Capitol with his beautiful mind and insightful words, will come to fruition. 

This book, very much like the first, is so gut wrenching. I swear, with every page I read, Suzanne Collins just impresses me more and more. She has such an incredible way of making you care for these characters so deeply. I want Katniss to live. I want her to really fall in love with Peeta (Yep. I'm Team Peeta, y'all!) I want her to marry him and have adorable little baker babies. And I want those babies to grow up in a safe, Capitol-free world. And I want Gale and Prim and Katniss' mother to be ok. And Haymitch too! And I want him to lay off the sauce. And good Lord I hope Cinna is alright! See, this is why Suzanne Collins' books are so friggin fantastic! Long after the book is closed, long after the story is over, you're still thinking and worrying and yes, obsessing about these characters. Even right now as I'm sitting here writing this review I keep sliding glances over at my nightstand where Mockingjay is patiently waiting for me. 
Catching Fire was a wild ride from start to finish. And Holy God, what a finish!!! What a crazy, unexpected, awesome ending! Ok, I HAVE to go read Mockingjay now. I can't stand the suspense any longer!

The Scale of Judgment says...... 5!

EvilEva reviews... The Hunger Games

EvilEva reviews...... The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. 

The Hunger Games Trilogy.

The world has gone to hell. North America is now Panem, a country divided into 12 Districts and ruled over by the Capitol. Each year the Districts are forced to participate in the reaping, where a boy and a girl from each District, called Tributes, will be picked to compete in The Hunger Games. 

The Hunger Games is the ultimate test of survival. A televised event pitting the Tributes against each other in a fight to the death. There can be only one winner. It's basically hardcore Survivor. But instead of being voted off and Jeff Probst whisking you away to a mere four star hotel, the contestants must kill each other and wait for the body of the person they've just bludgeoned to be transported elsewhere by hovercraft. Hard. Core.

The story revolves around Katniss Everdeen. Katniss is one tough cookie. She hunts, fishes, single-handedly takes care of her small family, and now, after taking her younger sister's place, she must compete in the Games. Also picked from her District is Peeta Mellark. A boy with whom Katniss shares a bit of a history (and maybe a bit of a romance with as well!) Rounding out the main cast of characters introduced in this book are Haymitch, former District 12 winner of The Hunger Games (and resident drunk) as well as mentor to Katniss and Peeta; Rue, the small Tribute from District 11 and eventual ally to Katniss; Gale, Katniss' best friend and hunting buddy from the Seam; Prim, Katniss' little sister; Cinna, Katniss' stylist (because the Capitol wants to pretty you up before they lead you to slaughter); and Effie Trinket, District 12's overly enthusiastic escort. 

The plot is pretty basic. Stay alive by any means necessary. But Suzanne Collins has managed to make magic because with every turn of the page you want these characters to be ok. You want them to come out on the other side safe and unscathed but, because of the rules of the Games, you know that some of them won't and it breaks your heart. Suzanne Collins did a wonderful job with these characters. She had me rooting for them, worried for them, frightened for them and ecstatic for them. This book is an emotional roller coaster for the reader because, with how the Games are, there's danger around every corner and no one's safety is guaranteed. This makes the book very fast paced without being sloppy. I wanted to pick it up and read it every night until my eyes were sore and my vision became blurry and even then I still wanted to finish Katniss' story but sleep would eventually win out. In the morning I would see the book on my nightstand and get all whipped up again waiting for the moment when I could dive back in. I thought the book was beautifully written and very interesting. The whole book is a masterpiece in my opinion. The characters, the plot, the pacing, the imagery, the details! All of it comes together so wonderfully! I can't wait to get started on Catching Fire and see what happens next!
I HIGHLY recommend The Hunger Games especially if you're looking for something a bit supernatural but also unique and have grown tired of the vampire/werewolf/fairy/angel/witch lit that have been tumbling from the YA shelves lately. 

The Scale of Judgment says...... 5!

Stay tuned, muffins. I'll be reviewing Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games, soon. So keep checking back and may the odds by ever in your favor! ;)

The Hunger Games Virgin

That's right y'all. i have yet to turn a page, nay to crack a spine of the latest book sensation to sweep the blogosphere.
i'm, of course, talking about The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.
i've heard so much buzz about these books that i thought now, while revamping my blog, would be the perfect time to read them.
So, my dear bloggermuffins, it's official!
The Hunger Games will be the very first book review of the new & improved Nancy Drew is My Homegirl blog!