Review: The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

Title: The Shining Girls
Author: Lauren Beukes
Published: February 1st 2014
Date Read: March 24th - 26th 2016
Read In: German

"It's not my fault. It's yours. You shouldn't shine. You shouldn't make me do this."

THE GIRL WHO WOULDN'T DIE
Kirby is lucky she survived the attack. She is sure there were other victims were less fortunate, but the evidence she finds is... impossible.

HUNTING A KILLER WHO SHOULDN'T EXIST
Harper stalks his shining girls through the years – and cuts the spark out of them. But what if the one that got away came back for him? 









I've had this book for quite some time on my shelf, but it almost joined to books i'm probably never going to read. But right before i did start reading it, i had it in mind for some days. So when i finished the book i was reading before, i just took it off of my shelf.

It actually sounded great, otherwise i probably wouldn't have bought it. It's about a serial killer, Harper, who is able to jump through time and kills girls he's called The Shining Girls. They just have something that makes them shine to him, so he needs to kill them. While reading this book, you really have to pay attention the the year the chapter plays in, otherwise i guess it could be confusing.

Kirby, on the other hand, is the only girl who survived. Harper doesn't know for quite some time, but one day he discovers she's alive. After he killed every Shining Girl, he needs to finish his job, which means he needs to kill Kirby.

Since i like reading thrillers, i really enjoyed this. I've read some reviews by others where some said this book is gory, but believe me, it's not. Most of the killing scenes aren't written down.

Review: Redeemed by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Title: Redeemed (House of Night #12) 
Author: P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
Published: October 14th 2014
Date Read: March 6th - 9th 2016
Read In: German

In the final electrifying novel in the HoN series, Neferet has finally made herself known to mortals. A Dark Goddess is loose on Tulsa and the world. No single vampyre is strong enough to vanquish her – unless that creature has the power to summon the elements as well as the ability to wield Old Magick. Only Zoey Redbird is heir to such power... but because of the consequences of using Old Magick, she is unable to help.

Find out who will win and who will lose in this epic battle of Light versus Darkness. The House of Night series is an international phenomenon. With more than 12 million copies in print, rights sold in thirty-eight countries to date, and relatable, addictive characters, this series is unstoppable. Now, in the final instalment of the series, Zoey and her friends face the ultimate battle with evil which will determine the fate of the world, both human and vampyre.



I'm glad this series is over now. I'd give it overall 3 stars, because sometimes i was really annoyed by it. I know it's for teens and the characters are teenagers, but most of the time they were totally naive and stupid. Who really annoyed me were the "twins", Erin and Shaunee, and Zoey herself. Zoey was supposed to be their hero, but she acted like she was a little child. In Redeemed, she finally started to act like she should have. Shaunee wasn't so annoying anymore because there was no Erin. The series wasn't a total flop, but it wasn't very great either. When i started reading it, i kind of liked it, that's why i didn't abandon it, i wanted to know how it ended. But since it took 12 books, i thought it was a bit too much.

Characters i really liked in this series were Aphrodite and Kalona. Especially Kalona was in Redeemed the best character, Aphrodite wasn't in many scenes, so she didn't have to say or do much. The books were an easy read, so it didn't take me long to finish one. The language was stupid sometimes, but that could've been the german translation, i don't know. The novellas were better than the series itself.

Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Carry On 
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Published: October 6th 2015
Date Read: February 28th – March 1st 2016
Read In: English

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here – it's their last year at Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.








I'm really sad this wasn't Cath's fanfiction from Fangirl – when i heard about this book, i thought it was, but while reading it seemed different and in the end of this book, Rainbow Rowell said it was her own story about Simon and Baz and not Cath's fanfiction. I'd loved to read her fanfiction, i really enjoyed it while reading Fangirl.

But i still liked this book and even though it's not Cath's fanfiction, there was some kissing between Simon and Baz. The story Rainbow Rowell built up around Simon was good, it really reminded me of Harry Potter. The Mage was a little annoying, but he wasn't there all the time, just lots of mentions.

Review: Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Title: Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles Collection)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Published: February 2nd 2016
Date Read: February 18th - 21st 2016
Read In: English


The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories – and secrets – that are wonderous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories – five of which have never before been published – and a special bonus excerpt from Marissa Meyer's upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the beststelling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.





This Collection contains 9 stories:
The Keeper
Glitches
The Queen's Army
Carswell's Guide to being Lucky
After Sunshine passes by
The Princess and the Guard
The Little Android
The Mechanic
Something Old, Something New 


I'm not going to review each story alone, so this won't be a huge review. These 9 stories were rather short, the longest one being The Princess and the Guard i think. All stories were nice to read and when i started this book, it felt like i've missed The Lunar Chronicles a lot, even though it's not that long ago since Winter came out.

The writing is great as always and all 9 stories were kinda cute. The first 8 stories take place before Cinder, the last one takes place after Winter. By their names you can probably guess who the story is about, if you've read The Lunar Chronicles – apart from The Little Android, which is about an android we haven't met before, but she meets Cinder somewhere in her life.

One day there will be another book about this universe, called Wires and Nerve. Until then, i'll really miss The Lunar Chronicles.

February Book Haul.

I bought sooo many book last month, oh my god. There were so many on my wishlist and this time i just couldn't help myself 

Der Libellenflüsterer by Monika Feth
Jackaby by William Ritter
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
House of Night 12 – Redeemed by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Asylum by Madeleine Roux
Sanctum by Madeleine Roux
Catacomb by Madeleine Roux
Death of the Mad Hatter by Sarah J. Pepper
Locks: Rapunzel Unhinged by Sarah J. Pepper
Snow White Lies by Sarah J. Pepper
Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard




Autumn #3 by David Moody
Hot Blooded by Lisa Jackson
Cold Blooded by Lisa Jackson
Born to Die by Lisa Jackson
Afraid to Die by Lisa Jackson
Leopard by Jo Nesbø
Kakerlaken by Jo Nesbø


These are second hand books, all of them in german language. Some books i'd like to have new, some i don't. And of course there are some books you can't get anymore than second hand. Sometimes i buy old books second hand on a german website called reBuy.de.