Delirium by Lauren Oliver

It is the future. America has become a much different place. Government surveillance is widespread, cities are fenced in, and love have been outlawed. Yes love. It is now considered a disease--amor deliria nervosa--characterized by a quickened pulse, distraction, and irrational obsessions. At age 18, everyone is given "the cure" which wipes love of any kind out of the brain forever. Lena's mom died from love, and the stigma of this has followed her for her whole life. All that Lena wants to do is turn 18, get the cure, and live a normal life. But then she meets Alex. And she starts to question whether everything she's been told her whole life is true. Is life better without love?

I've read a lot of reviews that called this book derivative or considered it a letdown after Oliver's smash debut Before I Fall. I really, really loved this book. It's true that there are inconsistencies, as in any book, and that the premise not particularly unique or even that interesting. It's pretty cheesy to be honest. I found the slightly different premise of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies to be much more interesting in and of itself. However, I thought that the quality of the language, the suspense and the characterization overcame these issues to make a book that can be forgiven, because it was such a pleasure to read. I listened the audiobook mainly because I enjoyed Sarah Drew's reading in Before I Fall so much. She blew me away with that book, and she blew me away with this one. I was literally sitting in front of my computer unable to stop listening after my ipod died for most of the book. The audio equivalent of "I couldn't put it down." So I think this is a book that you love or you don't. And I loved it.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

This was an awesome book. It begins in a prison in the kingdom of Sounis. The main character is Gen--a thief, imprisoned indefinitely because he bragged too loudly about stealing from the King. One night he is dragged from his cell and brought before the King. He's told he's going on a secret mission, and his skills are needed. His task will be to steal the legendary Hamiathe's Gift, a stone that confers the authority of a royal ruler to whomever receives it. Gen isn't sure which is worse--going on the quest or rotting in prison. But he's not given a choice. He's dragged along with the king's magus, his two apprentices, and a no-nonsense professional soldier on a quest through two countries where every ounce of his cunning is needed. This book will surprise you regularly and it does not end anywhere close to how you think it will. The characters are impressive and distinct from other fantasy. The setting is reminiscent of ancient Greece--olive trees and a pantheon of gods and goddesses, but it is unique and enthralling. Definitely recommended.

Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Book 1 by Heather Brewer

Vlad Tod is trying to survive eighth grade. It's hard enough that his parents died a few years ago and he's still not over it, but now weird things are happening. The girl he likes seems to be in love with his best friend, and the school bullies are worse than ever. But it's more serious than that. His favorite teacher has gone missing without a trace and he finds a mysterious book that belonged to his father that only he can open. Also, Vlad is a vampire--half-vampire to be exact. Vlad hates the taste of cooked meat, but can stomach it to keep up appearances. He much prefers the blood sandwiches and blood slushies that his guardian, Nellie, provides for him from the bloodbank at the hospital.

All these strange things happening are pointing to the fact that Vlad may not be the only vampire in the world, as he thought. And these other vampires seem to be a lot different from him. They've never had a blood-slushie, for one. They seem to prefer their meals hot. Could these vampires have something to do with his teacher disappearing? Or even his parents?

I enjoyed this book for what it was. It was a quick read with an entertaining voice. I enjoyed the world that the book set up and I'm looking forward to discovering more about it in the next book in the series.

Read-alikes: Artemis Fowl, The Hunger Games