Review: Sacrifice by M. Metz and L. Burns

Sacrifice by Melinda Metz & Laura Burns

Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Simon & Schuester Children's (September 20, 2011)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Paperback): 256
Series: Crave (Book 2)
Source: Simon & Schuester Galley Grab
ISBN-13: 9781442408180
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series Reviews: Book 1 (5★)

Gabriel and Shay are convinced that they can make their relationship work. Knowing that Shay is half-vampire, Gabriel thinks that his coven will embrace her as one of their own, but instead they view her as an abomination, a thing that doesn’t belong in either world. And they want her dead. Now Gabriel must make the ultimate decision - watch his love be killed by his coven or defy the people closest to him, the people he has spent centuries with to save her.
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Overview:

I love the story that Metz and Burns started in Crave and it continues to maintain its hold on me through Sacrifice. Shay and Gabriel are amazingly constructed and the level of their love is something I "crave" to read about. While repitive at times, there are moments that are nail-biting and make you wonder how it is possible to make it out of this alive. Sacrifice.

Review:

I can't figure out where I want to start with this book. I was madly in love with Crave after my experiment of no reviews and an unknown title. There was so much to love about the story; I loved the spin on vampire lore just as much as I loved the characters.

The first book ends with a monstrous cliffhanger and in one of the smoothest transitions I have ever read, Sacrifice picks up in perfection at the exact following moment. This was an exciting to start to the book; however, the thrill didn't continue to propel excitement through the first chapters. This was the only problem that I had with this book. In the first book, we had such intricate details of the characters coupled with a great and enticing story that pulled you through the entire book. In the beginning of this book, we are left with our desire to have more Gabriel and Shay but not the pull of what was coming next. It was, in the beginning, a constant ebb and flow of  "I love Shay and need her" or "Gabriel loves me, he will find a way here" and any combination thereof with the two of them confessing their eternal love in the confines of their mind.

Once we break free of that cycle, it changes and the action picks up and we get a sense of the Shay that we fell in love with in the first place. We see "realistic" situations and scenarios as Shay takes on the world. In this book, we are introduced to tragedy, betrayal, and sacrifice. I was expecting Sacrifice to be more of a central theme, but it is only there, fleeting in the background and ending in a shocking turn of events.

Overall, I loved reading this book. I pushed through the lull of repetition to find a great story and a wonderful twist. So much of the background to the characters is woven into this story and I think it is a solid end, with no confusion and no questions. There is a possibility of another book, its end is not finite but leaves you with a solid feeling of resolution.

Rating out of 5:

Favorite Quote (ARC):

'You're with me. That's all that matters'...Even though it wasn't all that mattered, it was the most important thing. To both of them.

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren; here we share with you, the lovely readers, what books came to us this week whether it be in the mail, from the library, purchased or borrowed.

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This week has been simply sensational for books with me! The purchase of the Nook has opened so many doors! Take a look at all the awesomeness I got!

For Review

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

Eve by Anna Carey

Sacrifice by Melinda Metz & Laura Burns

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Thank you to Simon & Schuester, Melinda Metz, and NetGalley!

Downloaded

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Free eBook) by Kady Cross

Won

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Thank you to Nicci at Paper Dreams!

See? I told you it was phenomenal! I am so excited to have such wonderful ARC titles. I recently published my first ARC review so I can see the potential and feel the excitement of these wonderful selections!

Be sure to let me know what was in your mailbox!

In My Mailbox (8)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren; here we share with you, the lovely readers, what books came to us this week whether it be in the mail, from the library, purchased or borrowed.
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I won...

The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

I won this from Colloquium!

I Bought...

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Crave by Melinda Metz & Laura Burns

From the Library...

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

When I visited the Half Priced Used Book Store for their Memorial Day Sale (20% off!), I happened to spot Crave off the bat and seeing that it is my recent new love, I of course had to have it. I may have pulled some things that were not in proper shopping etiquette but that lady didn't seem interested! And with 20% off how could I resist getting some other titles I have been wanting to read?! You're right, I couldn't!

My public library summer reading program (which I may blog about later) started this week and when I stopped to grab a reading log, I spotted Silver Phoenix and COULDN'T let it sit there; not when I am so eager to read it! And I have to admit that I wasn't prepared to receive The Hunger Games, I was 27th in line for it but they have so many copies it only took about a week!

Thanks again, Colloquium!

Be sure to let me know what you got in your mailbox! 

PS. Due to the recent events I recently explained and the fact that I have ended up sick, even though this was a vlog worthy haul, its a picture this week!

Armchair BEA: Best of 2011

Today's topic for discussion for Armchair BEA goer's is the best picks of 2011. There are a bajillion new selections that come out every year, it is so many I have to make up a new amount for it. Here are some of my picks, I've broken it into a couple different categories!

New Releases

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

This book is fantastic. It is an extension to one of my favorite YA series The Mortal Instruments. Clare does a great job at creating a world in a brilliant Urban Fantasy setting full with the mix of a GREAT story and a HOT love. This extends into the series The Infernal Devices you'll here more about in a minute!

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wow, Rhine is such a deep character and the world is so fully created and I am not left with a sense of confusion in the creation of her dystopian environment. I can feel the tension amongst all the characters while I read this book, as I am doing now.

I feel like Divergent by Veronica Roth is going to be on this list but I haven't had the chance to read it yet, it is next in the TBR!

Upcoming Releases

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

This release has been delayed from September to December of this year and the cover is to be revealed tomorrow morning at BEA and Mundie Moms will be sporting the cover reveal tomorrow with an Armchair BEA event! This book is the second in The Infernal Devices series, second to The Clockwork Angel which I absolutely adored. It has its own flair and uniqueness to it that I didn't expect with it being the prequel series to The Mortal Instruments.

Sacrifice by Melinda Metz & Laura Burns

This book is the sequel to Crave which received a five-star review from me. Crave ended in a very harsh cliffhanger so I cannot wait to get my hands on this YA vampire sequel.

Finally Read in 2011

Have I mentioned just how much I love Cassandra Clare? The Clockwork Angel was released in August 2010 and Crave was released in September 2010. I had heard great things about CA and I knew I would enjoy it having read The Mortal Instruments but I recently went into reading Crave completely blind, just grabbing it off the library shelf and I fell in love. The story was amazing. Strongly recommend either of these!

What are the books in your top for this year?

Review: Crave by Melinda Metz

Crave by Melinda Metz & Laura Burns

Goodreads | Amazon

 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (September 21, 2010)

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages (Paperback): 278

Series: Crave (Book 1)

Source: Library

ISBN-13: 9781442408166

Genre: Paranormal (Romance)

Shay could never do the things her friends could--never try out for sports, never go to parties, never fall in love. Because of the mysterious and incurable blood disorder she was born with, she can barely make it through three days of school a week.

But now, her doctor-turned-stepfather has a brand-new treatment that he thinks will change everything. And it does. As soon as the new blood starts pumping into Shay's veins, she has visions of a different life...Gabriel's life. She sees an orphanage, loss, fangs, blood, and lust that she can't explain.

Is Gabriel real? And if he is, could he really be what she thinks he is?

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I went into reading this book having nothing to go on but the cover and the synopsis; I picked it blindly off the library shelf and I was nervous. But sometimes, that experience is when we find the true jewels of the stacks and this book is one of them.

This book has deep and complex characters that tell their stories in dual perspective voice. Shay, the Sick Girl, finds an addiction to life; but it isn't just her life she is addicted to because there is Gabriel...Gabriel's life. Who is Gabriel? What is Gabriel? These questions compel her actions and her addiction and you find yourself wanting to ride the roller coaster with her; you want to experience life for the first time and with Shay, you can.

Through Gabriel's eyes, Shay has a remarkable connection to Gabriel and her unique take on life makes her stand out, makes him forget she's human...she's Shay. Love blossoms and grows into a complex relationship; one inspired through hope but started from desperation.

Their stories wrap into each other as you witness more and more of the history and the visions unfold until finally you hit the end. This book quickly replaced Twilight for me because of the elaborate character creation. Gabriel has true and sincere complexities unlike the popular Edward Cullen who simply feels he is a monster and dangerous. Gabriel has genuine family ties, clear and concise memories of his human life, his emotions, his last sunset; all the things that make him who he is. All the things that make Shay fall in love with him.

The worst part of this book is the cliffhanger ending. Towards the end of the book, the plot had me flipping pages and reading as fast as my eyes could cover the lines, the plot had reeled me in, I was in character heaven, then it was over. Gone. Done. Finite. And I am stuck in miserable suspense until Sacrifice releases in September. I long to continue my love affair with the Sick Girl and the Vampire.

Follow Friday (1)

In addition to First Impressions Friday, I have decided to participate in Follow Friday which is a networking feature hosted by Parajunkee. Here I am, makin' friends!

The Blogger Apocalypse made me a little emotional. 

What is the most emotional scene in a book that you have read lately?

This is a monster of a question because all the books that I have been reading lately have been inundated with tons of emotions. Finding love, feeling lust, utter sorrow, heartbreak, stress, and even more. So what book or scene is the most emotional out of it all? I think that my Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult will probably hold the number one spot overall but as of lately, Crave by Melinda Metz & Laura Burns holds the scene.

When you feel the desperation for Shay to not be a part of either world, to be in the moment just for one night, it's overwhelming and impossibly intense to feel that with her. I would love to tell you more about it but spoil it? Never!

PS. My review for this amazingly awesome book will be out next week.