Invisible by DelSheree Gladden

Hello! So today, I will be reviewing a book that probably isn't as well known as my previous books, but I figured -- why not give it a shot? So I did! I originally found this book on Wattpad, and it has been published, so the copy was removed when I read it, but I think the book is up again, so if it sparks some interest in you, go check it out :)

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Blurb/Synopsis from Goodreads

Here is the blurb/synopsis: 

Olivia’s best friend is not imaginary. He’s not a ghost, either. And she’s pretty sure he’s not a hallucination. He’s just Mason. 

He is, however, invisible. 

When Olivia spotted the crying little boy on her front porch at five years old, she had no idea she was the only one who could see him. Twelve years later when new-girl Robin bumps into the both of them and introduces herself to Mason, they are both stunned. 

Mason couldn’t be more pleased that someone else can see him. Olivia, on the other hand, isn’t jumping at the chance to welcome Robin into their circle. Jealousy may have something to do with 

that, but honest fear that Robin’s presence will put Mason in danger is soon validated when a strange black car shows up outside Olivia’s house. 

The race to find out what Robin knows in time to protect Mason from whatever threats are coming becomes Olivia’s only focus.

Okay, so now that you have read the synopsis/blurb, let's move onto the review!

So this book is about a girl named Olivia and her invisible best friend, Mason (thus the name of the book-- Invisible). They met when five year old Olivia saw Mason crying on her front porch, confused as to what is he doing alone out and so sad, and wanted to help him. She only realized that she was the only one that can see Mason when she finds that her whole family thinks of him as her imaginary friend -- and no one believes her! Well, that is until they start seeing thinks being picked up but no one was there, the shower being on and off when no one is in it, except Mason, of course! For twelve years, they were successful in hiding him away from everyone else, giving him shelter and a family. Until one day, a new girl at their school called Robin bumped into both of them in school, and not only apologized but introduced herself to Olivia and Mason, leaving them shell-shocked. Let's just say that when she realizes that she isn't the only one who can see Mason, and she have been having Mason all to herself for twelve years, she is not prepared to share him. Mason, au contraire, is more than delighted to find someone else who can see him besides Olivia. Olivia is determined more than before to keep Robin away from Mason when she finds a very suspicious black car conveniently stationed outside her house. With the warning bells ringing, they soon finds themselves tossed into a situation that just turns their whole world upside down...

Right, now for the personal opinion...

What I liked about this book: 

I like the whole invisible person thing because, lets face it -- it's pretty cool, unless you are the person who is invisible and no one can see you, but that is besides the point. I also liked how there was alternative point of views because I personally prefer books that are seen from more than one point of view because it gives you a better aspect of the story and you can see it in a different light and opinion as opposed to only sticking ot one character. I also think that this book has such a sweet story that is shared between Olivia and Mason. 

What I felt needed some improvement:

Well the heading for this is not quite accurate, but I feel that the whole best friends then into love thing is a little cliche and their whole romance is pretty cheesy and mainstream -- still, it is a good story :) 

That is it for now! Until the next post, my pulchritudinous readers ;) Ciao. 

Cheers,

K

B/N: Phew! Now, excuse me if the formatting is a little off or if this is shorter than usual but I will try to add onto it if I find anything! PS. I wrote this up in school, so yeah :) 

A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan

Hello guys! I'm baaack! So now that I finished all the existing Lux series books and it's review (though I can't wait for the final book in the series!), I will be moving on to other books, and to start it off, I will be reviewing A Girl Named Digit! Enjoy!

Here is the blurb/synopsis: 

Farrah Higgins started high school with one thing on her mind: ditching the math geek image that earned her the name Digit in middle school. By her senior year she’d figured out how to fake normal and fit in with the It Girls of Samohi. And it was all good, if exhausting, until she noticed some faint numbers in the corner of her TV screen and cracked the communications system of a murderous eco-terror organization. Kidnapped by the FBI for her own protection, half in love with her captor and running for her life… can she end world terror and get life back to normal before the prom?

Now that you have read the blurb/synopsis, which is comparatively short to the ones from my previous review, I shall move onto the personal summary thing (wow, using 'shall' makes it all sound so formal!). So this book is about a girl named Farrah Higgins, but was given the nickname Digit in middle school, with the reasons behind it being her special mathematical abilities to allow her basically to be a human computer or calculator. But as she enters high school, she has mastered the art of being normal -- or as normal as someone like Digit/ Farrah can be. She joined a clique/group in her high school dubbed as the Fab Four, and everything was as good as it can be, until one night, when she was watching TV with the Fab Four, and happen to see a flash of numbers at the corner of the TV screen, and Digit being Digit, remembered the numbers, and the next set, and the next. After attempting to push the whole number extravaganza into the back of her mind to no avail, she finally gives in and starts trying to crack it -- which she did --  only problem is is that it doesn't seem to make much sense, and no one else has seem to notice, until she heard the shocking news at her school that makes her realize that the series of numbers weren't just some silly joke, but the work of some lethal eco-terrorists organisation. She soon confides in with her father, a Maths professor, since it seems that her mother (an actress) and Danny (her younger brother) wouldn't be too suitable to confide in. She feels guilty for not realizing it earlier and they the decided to go to the FBI to report what her findings were in hope to help them with the investigation, where she soon finds herself sucked into the chaotic world of espionage -- alongside a very attractive, slightly older agent...

What I liked about this book:
The concept of having a girl like Digit with such a special gift is refreshing. The author, Annabel Monaghan, definitely did some research and dug out all existing mathematical knowledge for her to be able to write such detailed process on how Digit cracked a lot of main codes, and it was good to include Digit's 'working' or 'calculations' because it adds to the truly authentic smart, geeky and brilliant Digit way! Also, for some of those that is as smart as Digit and could actually understand it (I have to admit, I don't quite understand most of the calculations and may or may not be guilty of skipping some of her 'workings'). Overall, it is a great book, so check it out :)

What I found needed some improvements:-

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #4)

Hey guys! I'm on a roll! Yeaaaaah :) Yes, I know so far, I am doing only books under the Lux series, but this will probably be the last one on the Lux series for now (because the final book is not due for a while!), and I'll be starting on some new books, though I don't know for sure what I am going to be reading... Probably going to the school library soon to get some more books, so YAAAAY! Okay,on to the review...

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the 4th book in the Lux series. Here is the blurb/synopsis:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

BAM! There you go, the synopsis/blurb of the book-- now before I get to my summary, I will probably have a mini rant whatnot on the previous book, especially it's ending, so if you have not read Opal yet, SPOILER ALERT! There, now that that was out of the way, on to my mini rant (Feel free to skip out on the rant and go straight down to the summary if you want). Note that this will be a literal - excuse me for how I am phrasing this out - word vomit. I just type the first thing that comes to mind and don't filter it.

-Start of rant- 

*Takes in a deep breath* I honestly don't know what to feel about Blake right now. I mean, one minute I trust him, then I don't, then I sorta do, and now I don't. Honestly, everyone's a traitor-- no doubt to that. Who can you even trust now? Though does it make me a weird person if I hope that somehow deep down, Blake was the good guy in disguise? And was all that sh*t about liking Katy even real? Oh Lordy I feel like a total girly girl + disappointed fan girl (no offense) right now. Though I was actually out of the house when I was reading the ending, expecting some sort of happy ending and ZAMBAM, it was like someone smacked me in the face with a fish. Though I guess stories can't always end up happy, huh? It was hands down, a pretty good way to end the book and keeping people on that cliffhanger was genius yet cruel at the same time. I was pretty mad at Blake, and the whole Chris thing was like total BS? Dang, isn't he a great actor, either that or everyone else is just extremely gullible -- not that we would know because, after all, we are in Katy's mind/thoughts... I guess this would be the end of the rant! If you actually stuck through with my rambling, congratulations, you just found out what it is like to talk to me about books unfiltered, or just talk to my mind and thoughts in general -- though it would be much more messier than this... ;)

-End of rant-

Sorry about that! Now really on to the review..

So this book, unlike the past couple of books, are written in alternating point of views of Katy and Daemon. The book starts off what I assume would be 31 hours after Katy was captured by the DOD and Daedalus. Katy has been captured and transported off to Area 51, Nevada to the DOD/ Daedalus experimental base sorta place and she is pretty much expecting to be the next Dawson and Beth (recap: Dawson is the Blacks' other triplet and Beth is his girlfriend). Also as expected she was taken in and had many tests ran on her, needless to say, some easier than others. If they thought that she was pretty unstable, then they did not do a good job when they brought in someone who she has grew a strong loathing too in a short amount of time -- the one and only Blake. Yes, the Blake that betrayed her not once but twice; the Blake that took her opal and pretty much set her up for being caught in the DOD/Daedalus facility. But after going around the place, it seems that maybe the DOD/ Daedalus facility and research motives weren't as bad as it seems; perhaps her extraterrestrial friends and their kind were the one at blame...

Daemon was miserable and as approachable as a bed of nails since Katy was taken away. He was mad, to say the least at Matthew and Dawson for knocking him out when he was supposed to save Katy. His Katy. The one that he was supposed to protect. Look where that got her now, in the hands of their enemy -- The DOD/ Daedalus are doing God knows what to her, and he is not going to stand by and let that happen. He is going after her, and no one can stop this stubborn, strong-headed and madly in-love alien.He probably is in deep sh*t for doing what he did to the Elder and some people of his own kind, but what did they expect? Him to be all happy and sunshine-y after they took Kat? Desperate times come for desperate measure, and this very handsome alien would burn the whole world if it is what it took to get her back. He will do whatever it takes to be with her, even if it means turning himself into a situation that screams trouble...

This book, unlike the past couple of books, are written in alternating point of views which is undoubtedly Katy and Daemon's. Now this book is where it gets pretty deep into the whole Daedalus ordeal, so there will be quite a dystopian-ish feel to the book, especially when reading from Katy's point of view. The author, Jennifer L. Armentrout has seemingly very deliberately planned the plot line once again, and slowly, things start to click into place. This book kinda gave me a very paranoid feeling, in the sense where every time a new character was introduced, I would analyse pretty much all of their movements (if it makes sense) and then decide if they were evil or not. As cheesy as this sounds, this book makes me feel like I am being sucked into the story, which I guess would be every author's aim. It is a pretty emotional book and I won't lie and say that I don't think some things they did were stupid, just because ;).

What I liked about this book:
As usual, the author Jennifer L. Armentrout never fails to deliver. I loved the details in this book, with the whole Daedalus/DOD situation and it somehow has this very sweet little love story in it which just makes me go 'AWWWW'. It was like the other books -- amazing. I really would say some more but it might give out the story and all so I will just keep my virtual mouth/keyboard/words/whatever-the-heck-you-would-call-this shut.

What I felt needed some improvements: -
as per usual :)

Ahhh! Can't wait for the last book in the series!!

That is it for this review! Thanks for reading my pulchritudinous readers ;) Until the next book (get it? because next book = next book review = post? no? okay. buh bye now)
Cheers,
K

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #3)

Hey guys! So before you start wondering why on earth am I seemingly only reviewing books from the Lux series? Well that is because that is what I am currently reading, so that is what I am posting. I post what I read at the time, so to some extent you can keep up with what I am reading,that is, if you want to do that.
Okay, on to the review...

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the third book in the Lux series. Here is the blurb/synopsis:

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it

So now that you have read the blurb/synopsis, we can move onto my version of the summary. WARNING: SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT READ THE PREVIOUS BOOKS. You have been warned... 

 Okay so the third book, like the previous couple of books, are from Katy's point of view.This book takes off at where it left off, with escaping from Will (recap: Katy's mother's 'boyfriend' and evil, psycho doctor/traitor) and finding Dawson (recap: Dee and Daemon's brothers). As you probably remember from the previous book, Katy was held by Will, tortured using onyx, the stone that is painful to hybrids and Luxens (similar to how obsidian is harmful to Arums). Will used the special connection shared by the hybrids/mutations and their 'Healers' to get what he wants, which is to be mutated by a Luxen. He captured Katy, taking the bet that Daemon, who is the strongest of his kind, was her Healer and would do anything to set her free, including mutating Will. In exchange for mutating him, he would set Katy free allegedly unharmed and release Dawson, knowing that he has struck both of Dawson's weaknesses. He gave Katy the address and once the mutation was done, would set both of them out of the warehouse-like detention centre and give them easy access to Dawson, handing them a chance to free the last one of the Blacks' triplet.  Even though Dawson is back physically, doesn't mean that he is back mentally. Keeping in mind that Dawson was also harmed and tortured by the Daedalus, a group supposedly within the DOD (aka the Department of Defense).
 After knowing Will's true intentions for capturing and torturing hybrids and taking advantage of the special bond developed between them and their healers, we can easily conclude that is why they took Dawson and Beth in the first place -- to use them for mutating purposes -- which probably wasn't too helpful to the Daedalus, leading to the capturing of Katy Swartz and Daemon Black,

From the battle between Katy, Dee, Adam and Blake (recap: the cute surfer boy and hybrid), Blake killed Adam, which he claims that was not intentional. Shockingly to most of us, after getting their hands on Blake post-Adam's death, they let him go, claiming that this was his finla chance to go away and never come back unless he has a death wish, agreeing that there were too many deaths in one day. Dee still is grieving over Adam, who she only lately and discovered and confessed her feelings for. Dee blames both Daemon and Katy, but Katy blames herself. In this book, Dee plays as an powerful character and element in the book. Katy is regretful for pushing Dee away, and wants to be friends again, but Dee replies, saying that it was too much and she don't reckon they can ever be friends again. *winces* Ouch! Add in Ash and Andrew, the remaining of the Thompson triplets, who before Adam's death already seem to have a strong dislike towards Katy, now probably hates her guts. To make it worse, someone who isn't ever supposed to show up is back, and the devil has a deal to make -- one that they can't possibly turn down...

Yeah, cliffhanger-ish sort of thing I just did there *winks* I won't elaborate more because I am already at a risk of spoiler, and I might have already committed a mini crime there (not too sure though!). Onto my personal review...

What I liked about this book:

This book took many turn of events, some I did not expect. I particularly enjoyed watching Dawson grow out of his hollow shell and start to warm up to his old life. It is also particularly amusing having a jealous Daemon. Having Daemon as well, Daemon is protective enough in his nature, so Jealousy + Daemon = A very amused me. Some parts of the book got me gaping at my book like an idiot, but I couldn't help it. I particularly enjoyed the intensity of the book too. A great story line and plot! Praises to Jennifer L. Armentrout! Not gonna spoil but the ending = Oh My Lordy!

What I find needed some improvement:-

That concludes my book review! WOOHOO. Until next time, my pulchritudinous readers :)

Cheers,
K

B/N: I don't know what else should I add down to my reviews to improve it! Comment if you think I should
add anything new into my reviews and I'll consider! Also, Happy ANZAC day to anyone who celebrates it :)

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #2)

Onyx by Jennifer L Armentrout is the second book in the Lux series. This book follows the story of it's previous book and pretty much picks up where it left off. Here's the blurb/ synopsis:

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Rating: 4/5

Blurb from Goodreads

The book, like it's previous one, is seen from the point of view of Katy. This book follows on the journey of being 'connected' to her Daemon, her alien neighbour and crush. In this sequel, it focuses mainly on the complexity of the decision on who to trust and who to not. After all, traitors are everywhere! Not to mention what happened to a shadowy part of the Blacks' past -- one that is not often explored -- known as Dawson and Beth? Well, that is mainly what the book focuses on!

So if you are reading this post, you should know that beyond this point, there might be some spoilers for those who have not read the fist book, so READ AT YOU OWN RISK! You have been warned! Now, onto the summary...

So, the last book ended in a slight cliff-hanger, where Daemon made a cheeky little comment about not giving up on Katy, and isn't he serious! This book included some sweet moments where Daemon kinda 'courts' Katy to win her over and have her fully declare her true feeling towards him, but Katy being Katy would not believe that things like hat comes so easily and heavily suspects that the only reason Daemon is now pursuing her is because of some freaky alien connection that has surfaced after Daemon healed her. Now that you have the alien boy pursuing the stubborn, human girl that refuses to admit to her feeling towards him, what else to do but to add a new boy in town -- one that seems to know more than he should and seems to be getting a little cozy with Katy? Jealous alien boy who's suspicion is higher than ever? Check. Stubborn, overly trusting, kinda-human girl who is in denial about her feeling? Check. New surfer boy in town who seems to be bringing some pretty fishy business with him and who can't seem to get enough of Katy? Check. What else is there to a action pack, thrilling read? Throw in some evil aliens, a very incredulous government association, some dark past and backstabbers, then BOOM! You have one heck of a read!

What I enjoyed about this book:

The more detailed explanation is one thing to look forward to in this book. For those of you out there that have already read the first book, this will be the one where you get to further understand some of the plot and more about what is going on. Take this as a big stepping stone to the bigger truth, some which may be discovered at the end of the book! In this book, we can also watch as Matthew ( you guys remember him right? For those that don't, he is the 'guardian' of Dee and Daemon) becomes more transparent and open as a character, warming up more to the idea of having Katy around -- and not temporarily. We also watch as Daemon pours out his sweet side for Katy, which can turn some people into quote from Katy"a gooey puddle"*.

*Cue the cooing*

Lastly, as usual, the Daemon's P. O. V. is pretty exciting because we get another insight into Daemon's abstruse little alien head.

What I disliked about the book:-

So that concludes my second review! *Bows* 

Until next time I finish a book, my pulchritudinous readers!

Cheers,
K

B/N: What did you think about this review? How did the book make you feel? Let me know in the comments below! :)

*Quote might not be exact, due to my occasionally goldfish-like memory

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Obsidian is the first book in the Lux series written by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Here is the blurb/ synopsis:

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is...

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Blurb from Goodreads.

This book, if you can't already tell, is a supernatural novel about, well, aliens! Now before some of you go like 'What? Aliens? SO IMMATURE', let me tell you, I had pretty much the same reaction, but I figured, 'why not give it a go?' so now I can officially tell you that it is not as childish as a book about alien is expected to be. 

If the synopsis/blurb is not enough for you to understand the book, here is my version of a rundown of the book, which may or may not be helpful -- but that is up to you to decide. 

So the book is written in the point of view of Katy, a high school student, who moves to the small, silent town of West Virginia. She lives with her mom, which we will know at the beginning of the book, works as a nurse. A big factor that contributed in this move was her mother's intention to hep both of them move on from Katy's father's death from cancer 3 years ago, which was also explained at the first couple of chapters. She first meets Daemon when she offers to get some groceries for her mother, and getting some gardening tools for herself (which at this point, if you can't figure out yet, her liking towards gardening is revealed! DUN DUN DUN). Since she is new to town, she and her mother both have no clue to where the grocery and gardening shops were, so her mother suggests that she asks their next door neighbour, who she has not-so-discreetly mentioned that she saw some teenagers Katy's age - a boy and a girl. 

A little begrudgingly, she agrees and sets off knocking on her neighbour's door, which swung open to reveal Daemon in his so-called half naked glory. This event led to another and soon, she finds herself being tangled into a web of complications, and of course, aliens. 

BOOM! So that was my version of the story line rundown! I am trying my best to not have any spoilers in there, but if there is one or two minor ones, please don't come after me with a knife.

Now time for personal review! *rubs palms together with a smirk*

What I liked about the book:
Personally, I really enjoyed Katy as a character. She was smart, occasionally sarcastic, a dash of sassy and downright humorous. I thought Jennifer did a great job in writing out the story line to make it somewhat relate-able and engaging. In the story, Katy is a fellow blogger too, blogging mostly about books, and I comprehend her love for books, because in some aspects, I find that me and Katy are not all too different when it comes to our passion for reading -- not the being neighbours with aliens part, of course!Also the dry humour from some of the characters are very entertaining. Not to forget the extra special Daemon's point of view at the end of the book (we can finally take a sneak peek into the seemingly extra complicated mind of our attractive alien)! YAY :) 

                                         

What I feel that requires some more improvement: -

Dear PULCHRITUDINOUS people out there reading this, YOU JUST READ MY FIRST EVERY BLOG POST ON THIS BLOG!

For those of you who don't know what pulchritudinous means, Google it! ;)

Cheers,
K