The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 544pgs

The Story

Mara Dyer knows she isn't crazy. She knows that she can kill with her mind, and that Noah can heal with his. Mara also knows that somehow, Jude is not a hallucination. He is alive. Unfortunately, convincing her family and doctors that she's not unstable and doesn't need to be hospitalised isn't easy. The only person who actually believes her is Noah. But being with Noah is dangerous and Mara is in constant fear that she might hurt him. She needs to learn how to control her power, and fast! Together, Mara and Noah must try and figure out exactly how Jude survived when the asylum collapsed, and how he knows so much about her strange ability...before anyone else ends up dead!

The Review

Damn. Damn. Damn. I knew this book was so awesomely-different but damn this book was SO god-damn twisted and boy did I love it for being that twisted. So while I'm regaining my thoughts right now over this book, sometime last year I had the pleasure of reading The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and I thought it was one of the best - and creepiest - reads I have come across in a very long time, so of course I was looking forward to seeing what would happen in the sequel. But unlike most disappointing sequels that some series have (which I prayed over and over again that this sequel would not be one of 'them'), this particular sequel, I thought at least, was even better than the first book and surpassed it in many, many ways so I was a very happy reader by the end of this book. So yay for that!

But without spoiling everything in the book (since this book should remain a bit of an enigma for those who have yet to read this book series), all I can say is THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER will keep you questioning from the get-go and never do you see things coming your way. First you have your theories of what will become of Mara Dyer and her boyfriend Noah Shaw (who is so awesome in this book mind you and I love him for being the bad-boy-but-also-the-supportive-boyfriend as well), but then once another twist is thrown your way . . . you soon begin creating even more theories in your head with how the book is going to end, and to me I just love that feeling and how the mystery is not predictable in any matter whatsoever. So yeah, I really enjoyed this book, especially its characters. Yeah I'm talking to you Mara and Noah. You crazy, sexy kids. *grins*

Anyway, I think out of everything I've just read, the best part of this book was (of course) the ending. The big cliffhanger ending. Now while I was already and 'accidentally' spoiled by the ending of this sequel (which mind you was a very big spoiler) from certain someones, but even reading the ending for myself sent shockwaves on my spine and now I'm hungry for MORE! So I desperately need the next book, Michelle Hodkin, I need it now!!!!

Overall, THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER was an excellent sequel and considering what happened in the end, I'm already gearing up theories of my own for book three and boy I can't wait to read it!

The Rating

5/5 stars

The Evolution of Mara Dyer Trailer

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The Evolution of Mara Dyer book trailer!

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Tell me what you think about it?

Do you love it or hate it?

I, on the other hand, thought the book trailer was wonderfully put together. While I was hoping for something really scary but I think the makers of the trailer did a great job in capturing the essence of Mara Dyer: the haunting-but-sometimes-sweet side, the sexy undertones and basically everything else that we loved from the previous installment . . . I'm talking about some Mara and Noah lovin'! Boy this trailer has really got me excited for this sequel and I can't wait to find out what happens to our Mara Dyer, poor girl. So if you haven't already read Michelle Hodkin's first book, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, then you're seriously missing out on a fantastic series! Any other thoughts? Well . . . hello NOAH SHAW (the actor was not how I saw my Noah but still . . .).

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Release Date: 27th September, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Pages: 452pgs

The Story

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believe there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

The Review

Holy crap! It has been a while since I have been addicted to a book and it was about time I was addicted to something like this. I thought all of the hype would set my expectations up a little too high and I would end up disappointed but I wasn't at all. In fact, every single 5-star review was the damn-straight-honest truth. I love the cover to death and there's no denying that it's the most eye-catching and the most beautiful cover that I've seen this year and despite the summary of the book leaving you with no clue to what the book is actually about, THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER is by far one of my favourites of 2011 and I'm blessing this post with much love and adoration. And I have plenty of love to give.

Mara Dyer is a little crazy. There's no denying there because for her it's hard to justify what's real and what's simply a hallucination. But the thing about this particular book is that it's one that keeps you forever guessing and you have no idea what to expect next from the characters nor where the direction of this novel will take you. While I won't go into too much detail - since it would ruin the epicness of this novel and because I want my blog readers to find out for themselves on how great Dyer is - but please trust me when I say it was so incredibly awesome. With a very likable character like Mara and the smouldering love interest Noah, not to mention the haunting paranormal elements that surround the edges of the storyline, it was everything I was hoping for and my expectations are now out of this world.

What stood out the most from the endless pages was Mara Dyer herself. She was smart, funny, knew how to ward off trouble even when it seemed tempting to her, and even though she thought she was going crazy . . . I just loved every bit of her snarkiness that she threw our way. Who doesn't like some snark in a teenage girl? Now unlike most leading female heroines that you read nowadays in young adult fiction, Mara had a great relationship with her family (finally a girl with a great family) and she easily connected to many of the characters introduced in the book. But personally for me, the person she really connected to was the bad boy of the town and her love interest in the story. Noah that is.

Bad boys seem very overrated through many readers eyes and I was about to give up on them . . . even though I will probably end up having a love and hate relationship with them. But clearly hate won't take any part in Noah's case. God he was HOT and super fine! *fans face* He may have a reputation looming over him like the plague but everyone loves a bad-slash-british-boy. Well actually he's not necessarily your typical 'bad boy' but I think people will see he's the kind of boy that takes time to trust and with Mara it does. Though for me it was too easy to trust him completely because you fell in love with him and how extra sweet and funny and caring he was towards our Mara, which in my eyes . . . gives him the extra hint of sweet, sweet honey. Yes I believe I just said that - who would've thought? And unlike YA fictional relationships, these two characters - Mara and Noah - shared such an intense sense of chemistry which ignited all sorts of fiery sparks that practically flew off the page. Not kidding here. All I wanted was more scenes of these two teens together and it just didn't seem enough. As you can gather by my neverending gushing, I loved this couple on a whole and I will continue to love them forever.

Getting more down to the point, I thought Michelle Hodkin's writing was absolutely beautifully-prosed and she practically seduced me with the written word. There were so many scenes that left you craving for more, so many witty comebacks shared between characters (ones that made you laugh at loud), and of course, there was plenty of questions left floating around my mind towards the end of the book. Because after all, there was that unexpected cliffhanger that hit into you. How cruel Hodkin . . . how cruel! Overall I literally can't wait to get my hands on the sequel to this series and it'll be interesting what else happens to Mara and Noah, and I hope some questions will be answered also. Gah! I can't stop thinking about Noah right now . . . so thank you very much Hodkin for that troublesome problem of mine!

The Rating

5/5 stars