Faceless: Review

Synopsis:

My name is Brandt Cross, and I died. Again…　

I'm living in the body of a Six named Douglass Cain, a certifiable scumbag whose ability is on Zendean Industries—AKA Denazen's—most wanted list. There’s some serious bad going down, and Ginger, the leader of the Underground, sent me undercover to obtain information because people are dying.　

My cousin, Dez, is dying…

Denazen thought they’d found a cure for the Supremacy decline, but they were wrong.　That’s the bad news. The good news? Franklin Wentz.　

Wentz, the owner of a genetic research company, is brilliant and just a little bit crazy. He’s unwittingly created a formula that may cure the sick Supremacy kids, and everyone wants it—including Devin, the super hot Resident.

Get the formula. Save the day. Don’t fall for the hot spy. Piece of cake.

***

Faceless features my favorite character in this book, Brandt-as-Douglass. He's always protective to Dez and I admire and kind of envy that (because... well, my cousins and I aren't close). This book is about Brandt being some sort of free-agent for himself (or for Dez, but still). And yeah, he encounters problems. Really pesky problems. Kind of funny though. It's not as good as Untouched though. There are something lacking in Faceless though I can't put my finger on it. And it's not a necessity to read Faceless because you can still understand Tremble without reading this. And my favorite part? The name of the novella. Faceless. Such a fitting name for Brandt. (Because... you know, he's a Soul Jumper)

Rating: 6.5/10

Tremble: Review

Synopsis:

Dez Cross has problems. She’s almost eighteen and on the verge of losing her mind thanks to the drug Denazen used to enhance her abilities. People close to her have turned their back on the underground and are now fighting for the wrong side. And then there’s Kale... Things couldn’t get any worse.

Until of course, they do. Denazen is about to start a new trial—this one called Domination—and it works. But that means out with the old and in with the new. The order has been given to terminate all remnants of the second trial—including Dez. The good news is that there’s a survivor from the original trial. A woman who’s blood may hold the cure for the second generation of Supremacy kid’s defect. But the underground Sixes aren’t the only ones who know about her….

Cross is willing to throw everything he has to keep Dez from getting the cure—including the one thing that might tear her apart from the inside out.

***

(Warning: This will contain some spoilers in Tremble)

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand it gets much better than Toxic because of the plot. On the other it keeps getting worse on Kale's love interests. I don't even know my mind can be torn like this. There are so many emotions swirling that I can barely think straight.

Let's talk about the good part first. The plot is better and there's actually something going on in Tremble, unlike Toxic. Finally it's not that predictable anymore on the whole bringing-Denazen-down aspect. I have hopes about the development of the story again. I hope it gets better and better in the fourth and the fifth novel. And luckily we actually have something to focus on other than love triangles. Best of all, we don't have much Jade in Tremble. Thank goodness.

Now the bad part. Well, before you read this, I must say that this is going to be quite long and brutal. You have been warned.

Okay, the whole thing about Kale's love interest and his attitude sickens me. Before all the drama and jazz in Toxic he was one of my favorite male characters. But now, after reading this book, I'm not sure if I will like him ever again even though I know none of this is his fault. He's taken by Denazen. He's brainwashed by a Six chick in Denazen. He got his brain scrambled like burned pea soup. He doesn't remember Dez anymore. His head is a mess. He thinks Dez is someone he hates. Blah and blah. Yes, I admit that it's not his fault he got his brain fried. But that doesn't mean at one point I HATE this guy. Not only is he not the same Kale anymore, he's bitchy, I kid you not. Just because you got your brain scrambled and you are confused and angry inside doesn't mean you have to be such a punk, huh? Did the author write this book and shape Kale in this kind of character just to piss me off? Congratulations, you did it. Gloriously.

Confession, which I'm sure you're not going to like if you are a Kale fan: At one point of the story I wish he got his brain unscrambled (suddenly, because it'd be melodramatic) and realize what he's done to Dez and die of guilt. Told you you won't like this.

I also have a lot to say about Kiernan. She's officially taken Jade's place as "the bitchiest and most die-worthy human/Six in the universe". Okay, I get that Kiernan wants to be loved. But seriously is she too blind or stupid (or both) to understand that no one in the face of this earth loves her? She should know better that siding with Denazen earns you anything but love. The way she keeps prodding Dez makes me want to punch her myself. And she freaking destroys Kale's mind. Yeah, I wish her die a slow, horrible, torturous death. Or better yet, I kill her myself.

I don't know what to say about Dez, though. On some levels I admire her strength in dealing with Kale's iciness and rage (towards her!). I also admire her sarcasm and her faith. But I think she's too pathetic this time. Not that putting her faith on Kale is a bad thing, but seriously I don't think she should be with Kale even after he remembers. I don't care what you say about Dez trying to help Kale and Kale is not himself and all the shit. I don't like seeing the two of them together. Not because I don't like Dez, but because I don't like Kale. If I was not sure about Kale remembering what they have after reading the whole his-brain-is-scrambled thing, I might actually want to punch Dez to make her see some sense, that she should move on. 

Tremble is not a book I will recommend if you are a hater of cheaters because it will surely brings out your inner rage. Despite the plot being better, the book still frustrates me to no ends. Oh, I will still read the fourth and fifth book, but only because I want to see the master devil that is Denazen fall.

Rating: 5.5/10

Toxic: Review

Synopsis:

When a Six saved Kale's life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she'd lose the one thing she'd give anything to keep... And as if it's not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems.

After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice--surrender to Denazen for the cure...or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn't involve being bagged and tagged--or losing someone she loves--Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there's a traitor among them. Jade.

Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there's any hope of proving Jade's guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead...

***

I like Touch and it's one of the better novels I've read this year. Unfortunately it's not the same in its sequel, Toxic. In fact it's one of the most frustrating novels I've read EVER. Many times I found that I want to throw the book across the room just because it's annoying on some levels and the so-very-flawed plot.

First is the plot. Which is a less-of-a-problem comparing to what I'm going to talk about next. The plot is so very predictable, unlike Touch. (SPOILER!) I can totally guess that Jade (aka punk-ass bitch) is not the traitor even though she's so very annoying (End of Spoiler). I also know that something bad will happen at the end of the book without even reading the second half of the book. Yeah, it's predictable like that. I still enjoy the story, but it's lost the spark and the element of surprise.

And now the bitch-out part, which I can barely hold it in. Because this, this love triangle thing is one of the worst thing I've ever seen. Jade is manipulative, annoying and bitchy. Using Kale's innocence to hurt Dez makes me want to hit her in the face. Dang it, I wish she will die horribly, and that was saying something. Several times I have to put down the book just to calm my anger and disgust. I'd never, ever hate a female character so much that I want to kill her myself, in my own cruel way. 

Kale is not much better either. There are countless times when I shout out, "Kale, come on, can't you be less insensitive and innocent?" Oh yeah, his sparkling purity is his greatest sin. I understand that Kale doesn't know much about the world outside Denazen, but dang it, this is HIS feelings we're talking about. Don't you tell me Kale doesn't know how he feels. And is he so innocent that he doesn't know kissing another girl while your girlfriend's watching is asking for death? Insensitive much? I won't go that far to say he's a man-whore or something like that because I understand he's too innocent to know better. But that doesn't mean I'm not frustrated with him and sometimes want to kick him just to make him see some sense. My view towards him drops like angels in the Fall. And Dez... Dez is slightly better than these two, but I can't believe that after everything Kale has done to hurt her, she's still into him. Hard. I'm not against the idea of her into him, but seriously I think Dez is losing her self-respect. Come on, where's the girl power in Touch? 

Plot development? Not much to even talk about. Surprise? Barely. Romance? It's better to kick myself in the head. Yeah, I think I might just grow more and more frustrated with the series.

Rating: 5/10

P.S. I'm reading Tremble now and Toxic is nothing compare to Tremble in terms of frustration. Well, let's just say right now, I kinda hate Kale. Yeah. And worse, I'm not sure the feeling will go away anytime soon.

Untouched: Review

Synopsis:

Until he met Dez, Kale’s days were filled with violence and death. He was used as a weapon of destruction by the power hungry men of Denazen. He’s a Six. A person with an abnormal ability. Some people call them gifts, but not Kale. Kale’s touch means instant death.

But now there’s Dez, the girl he can touch, and they’re hunting down Sixes and warning them about Denazen. Kale is learning about the world outside captivity and trying to put his dark past behind him. But they underestimated how badly Denazen wanted him back.

When Dez sacrifices herself to save the new Six they’d rescued from falling into the corp’s hands, Kale is lost. Denazen has brought out its best to get the job done. Samsen, a nightmare from Kale’s past—the only person he’s ever truly feared—has come for them, and it soon becomes obvious he has his own twisted agenda.

Kale will need all his training to get Dez back and ensure they make it out, free—and alive. But will it be enough?

***

It's a nice short novella set between Touch and Toxic. We actually reads about some good time between Dez and Kale. It's fresh because they faced a lot of trouble and don't have some private time for themselves in Touch. We also get a glimpse of what Kale's mind is like. Still innocent and curious, he's still really lovable. A new character is also introduced, which will also be in Toxic. We also have a better taste of what violence really feels like in the world of Denazen because all there is in Touch are rumors about how cruel and violent Denazen is. 

I'm reading Toxic and so far I really like it. But before reading Toxic I read some of the reviews that suggest I may not like some of the plots and outcomes. Well... we'll just have to see about that.

Rating: 8/10

Teaser Tuesday: Toxic by Jus Accardo

This weekly bookish meme is host by MizB @ Should Be Reading

To participate you:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3.  Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
4.  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
5.  Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

This week I choose Toxic (Denazen #2) by Jus Accardo

The smug expression on her face nearly drove me over the edge. It had me wondering where I could bury her body and how fast. We'd met a Six over the summer with the ability to manipulate the earth. Something like that would come in handy for an impromptu grave digging...













Add Toxic on Goodreads:

Touch: Review

Synopsis:

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

***

I've been planning to read this for quite a while. I just thought, "hey, Sixes being held as prisoners and assassins? That sounds cool!" But not only did I not have time before, for some reason I'm hesitant about reading (perhaps my faith on YA novels is slowly fading?). Until now. And oh my god I never remember swooning so hard besides Lux series. This woman... she can totally write. I can't believe I was hesitant about reading it before.

The background and the plot is amazing. I strongly believe that's the origin of the awesomeness of the whole Daedalus thing in Lux series. Denazen, a really screwed and twisted organization imprisoning a bunch of kids having weird abilities and force them to do bad things and they actually think they are doing the right thing? Well, I'm telling you this is where a great action story is born. And the plot... it's clear, but not the predictable kind of clear. In fact it's almost anything but predictable. What I mean by clear is that the intentions of the characters are clear and you won't be confused by the story. 

And if that's still not good enough to have you dwell on it, then the characters will do it for you. Deznee (aka Dez), the narrator of the story, is a strong-willed girl. She's curious, which is always my favorite personality, and she's determined when she wants something. She cares about her friends and family under her snark. Kale... well, he takes swoon-worthy to a whole new level. He's not like Daemon, cocky and confident. He has this kind of innocence that you can't help but find it cute. Just check this one out:

“He sat up straight, eyes wide, and touched the tip of his index finger to his cheek. "What was that?"
I blushed. "A kiss."
"That's what a kiss feels like?"
"Well, technically. There are a lot of different types of—"
"Show me."
"Show you what?"
"Show me some other kinds."
"You're asking me to kiss you?"

Excuse me while I swoon. 

It's rare to have this kind of innocence because he has faced so many violence. And yet he has this pureness in him that he's lovable enough. Unfortunately I know this kind of pureness won't last. Sigh. Brandt is my favorite character besides these two. But there's not much about him. I hope I will read more about that guy in the future.

A world filled with unstoppable violence and endless action. A smoking-hot and sizzling romance and an unforgettable story. My new favorite series.

Rating: 8/10