Gallows Hill

Hello!

Clearly I'm in a dark phase. This week's review is on Gallows Hill by Lois Duncan.

Role-playing takes on a terrifying cast when 17-year-old Sarah, who is posing as a fortune-teller for a school fair, begins to see actual visions that can predict the future. Frightened, the other students brand her a witch, setting off a chain of events that mirror the centuries-old Salem witch trials in more ways than one.

Hobbit (The)
E
Divergent
Gallows Hill
E
Handmaid’s Tale (The)
O
G

S

Finally a book that fits into my challenge. It's almost like I forgot what I was doing. This is clearly a YA horror. It was cheesy and the ending I just don't know what was happening with that. They're not challenging books which makes for a quick read if you want a little fix of not-so-scary horror. The beginning was pretty good. The flashbacks and the connections to Salem were really cool. The characters were a little eh and underdeveloped. The plot was all over the place and I really wish she explained the paperweight better. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

Happy reading!
Mackenzie

Calling All Writers

Hey everyone!

So as you may have read in my review Gillian Flynn has some crazy books! My question this week is:

If you're a writer (or if not) where do you get your inspiration from?

Keep reading!
Mackenzie

Dark Places

Hello, hello, hello,

Today I welcome you to Dark Places.

Yeah, I'm just reviewing the book written by Gillian Flynn.

Libby Day was just seven years old when her evidence put her fifteen-year-old brother behind bars. Since then, she has been drifting. But when she is contacted by a group who are convinced of Ben's innocence, Libby starts to ask questions she never dared to before. Was the voice she heard her brother's? Ben was a misfit in their small town, but was he capable of murder? Are there secrets to uncover at the family farm or is Libby deluding herself because she wants her brother back? She begins to realise that everyone in her family had something to hide that day... especially Ben. Now, twenty-four years later, the truth is going to be even harder to find. Who did massacre the Day family?

This book was good. The writing was great and it totally carried the Flynn mark. Characters and plot were not as great. It was not a psychotic and thrilling as Gone Girl. If you've already read Gone Girl you might be a little eency teensy bit disappointed. I don't suggest reading this alone in the dark because it has a depressing factor that may take hold of you. This vile little book is still insane, specifically the ending (which is another unpredictable one). I love there is no romance at all in this book, there are rarely any books without romance. Flynn doesn't need that to get people into her books. She does it just with her fantastic writing. I don't want to know what's going on in Flynn's mind to create these but good for her. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Keep reading!
Mackenzie

Demon Seed

Hey there!

This weeks review is on Demon Seed by Dean Koontz.

Susan Harris lived in self-imposed seclusion, in a mansion featuring numerous automated systems controlled by a state-of-the-art computer. Every comfort was provided, and in this often unsafe world of ours, her security was absolute. But now her security system has been breached, her sanctuary from the outside world violated by an insidious artificial intelligence, which has taken control of her house.In the privacy of her own home, and against her will, Susan will experience an inconceivable act of terror. She will become the object of the ultimate computer's consuming obsession: to learn everything there is to know about the flesh... 

So this was like a modern Frankenstein with more technology. It was pretty cool and a little frightening. This is definitely one of his darker books with a lot of physical domination that is sexually fueled. And it's all done through.... a computer. Now this was written in 1973 could Dean Koontz be onto something? This is all about a computer living, I have a feeling we're not so far behind Koontz's imagination now. The 1997 rewrite is not as good. He removes a lot of what makes the story frightening and on edge. The 1997 rewrite is cheesy and it is completely from the computer's viewpoint and closer to romance than thriller. The computer just says the same thing over and over, which could be because he's a computer and programmed a certain way but it's not because he breaks out of the lab he's in. It was definitely entertaining and a quick read. The end was definitely funny and probably the best part of the book and NOT BECAUSE IT ENDED. If you are going to pick up this book, pick up the 1973 version and not 1997's. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Happy reading!
Mackenzie

Calling All YA Readers

Hello everybody!

I have some exciting news!

I found this great subscription box!

It's a book box called Uppercase Box. I say YA readers because it is one hand-picked Young Adult book a month plus bookish items. Cool right?

I know you probably all want to see it, so I present you with the three I received so far.

April: This Uppercase Box included a signed copy of The Start of Me and You  by Emery Lord. It also included a little framed picture, a handwritten note to me, book magnets, and an I Love Max Watson pin. Great first box! But they get better.

May: This box included a signed copy of The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey. Another framed picture, a book notebook, and a "Wicked is Good" sticker from The Scorch Trials.

June:This most recent box I received yesterday. And it was the best one yet! This box included The Wrath and The Dawn and a signed book plate by Renee Ahdeih. It also came with a BookiEmoji tote bag, stickers, and book mark. Probably the best part of all was the scarf that was inspired my the cover. 

I just started receiving these in April but I can't wait for more! I look forward to it every month and buy them for the rest of my life. Just simply go to uppercasebox.com to order your own. It's about $30 with shipping and it's so worth it. There's also an option to choose your own more specific box but I love the variety and surprise.

Happy reading!
Mackenzie

Designated Ugly Fat Friend

Welcome back!

My question this week is:

How do you feel about the term The Duff, or Designated Ugly Fat Friend?

As always leave your comments below. Also leave any suggestions of how you think I can improve my blog.

Keep reading!
Mackenzie

The Duff

Hey there!

This week I'm reviewing The Duff  by Kody Keplinger.

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper may not be the prettiest girl in her high school, but she has a loyal group of friends, a biting wit, and a spot-on BS detector. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. But things aren't so great at home and Bianca, desperate for a distraction, ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone. 

This was like the one book that I saw the movie before reading the book because I didn't know it was a book. This book was charming and funny, but I really hated the concept. The Designated Ugly Fat Friend. That's awful! Although at the end it gets turned into a good message blah blah blah. This book was obviously written by a teenager. She is a talented one though. It was extremely cliche. I am a sucker for YA so even though it was a obvious ending I was still pleased. But what was the main character thinking! I mean come on! If I was her I would totally make different choices because the situation was just ridiculous. But it was still funny and I did get kind of sucked in. I gave it 3 out of 4 stars.

Keep reading!
Mackenzie