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Demigods and Monsters
Date: Sunday, March 20, 2016
Time: 8:09 AM
Authors: Various Authors
Edited by: Rick Riordan/Leah Wilson
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Spend a little more time in Percy Jackson's world - a place where the gods bike among us, monster man snack bars, and each of us has the potential to become a hero.
Find out:
- Why Dionysus might be actually be the best director Camp Half-Blood could have
- How to recognised a monster when you see one
- Why even if we aren't facing manticores and minotaurs, reading myth can still help us deal with the scary things in our lives.
Review: Demigods and Monsters is a compilation of comprehensive essays about anything related to the world of Percy Jackson and The Olympians series. It features the insights of eight famous authors (Rosemary Moore, Cameron Dokey, Paul Collins, Carolyn MacCullough, Ellen Steiner, The Gods Among Us, J&P Voelkel, Jen Han, Sarah Beth Durst, Hilary Wagner, Hilari Bell, Elizabeth E. Wein, Kathi Appelt, Sophie Mason, Nigel Rodgers) regarding the series and guess what? Rick Riordan himself wrote the introduction. That was just WOW.
I really appreciated what Rick wrote in the intro that is served as my fire of inspiration to read through the whole book. Mind you, I am not a sucker for overly technical papers that you'd just die of boredom. But this has totally changed my whole perspective of reading essays and of looking at books on a general note. I just couldn't believe that these authors could come up with alot of takes with a supposed-to-be straightforward series. You know what, the book actually gave me this feeling of being with a wizened man and he is telling me, "You are only seeing the outside.. Look closer.... Read closer." I hope you get what I mean.
From now on, I am most certain that I will look at books at a different level. It's like stepping outside of your comfort zone and just absorb the most extraordinary things that could happen. And then finally, putting it into writing. The essays that have been featured in this cover the following:
- Newbie guide to recognising a monster
- Monster in the retail world - Why should one take caution even when buying a donut?
- Fulfilling a heroic destiny even when one is suffering from a handicap
- Choosing between a life of being forever young and immortal; or being old and wrinkly
- Valid reasons of choosing an almost mad god to run kids summer camp
- How gods and goddesses affect our daily lives
- How would Percy Jackson fare when faced with other mythological monsters
- Do you really want a god or goddesses to become one of your parents?
- Just because one rules the World of the Dead doesn't mean he is wholly bad
- A comparative study between the heroes of the past and of today
- Having a handicap could very well mean that one is destined to fulfill extraordinary things
- The dangers of foreseeing the future - Do you really want to be a seer?
- Stories of the past would always be alive if we continue to believe in it... Influenced by it
- Comprehensive glossary of ancient Greek myth
How good is that? And the good thing is that the essays did not give lifeless accounts of the author's views. Instead, I was treated to amusing reminisces of the Percy Jackson scenes that I love and provided me with equally hilarious new stuff to think about. My favourite essays from this compilation would that be of MacCollough about being a hunter for Artemis and that of Wagner's take on Hades's and Nico's side of heroic goodness.
Would I recommend this book? ABSOLUTELY! This book is a perfect enlightenment for those who want to look closer, to imagine beyond the realms of what was written in the pages. If you are an aspiring book analyst, book reviewer, or a student cramming to get his/her books essays right, then this book is must
Labels: Anthologies, Book Companion, Demigods and Monsters, Greek Mythology, Leah Wilson, Percy Jackson and The Olympians, Rick Riordan, Spin Off, Young Adult
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Seven Wonders: Tomb of Shadows
Date: Thursday, February 18, 2016
Time: 7:42 PM
Author: Peter Lerangis
Ratings: 3/5
Synopsis: The adventures unfolds in this third book in the best selling Seven Wonder series.
Three friends left.
Jack McKinley and his friends defeated the Colossus of Rhodes, unearthed the treasures of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and recovered two of the seven lost Loculi - only to find they've been betrayed.
Two sided split.
With Babylon in ruins, Marco on the Massa side, and ancient secrets coming unraveled, the Select don't know who to trust or where to turn. Their G7W powers are growing furious pace, their worlds have been turned upside down, and the Massa are on their heels. But Jack, Aly and Cass have no choice but to fight on.
One life lost.
With the fate of he world in the balance, the friends find the next stop on their quest, where they have to face down their own demons and engage in an epic battle with foes long gone. When promises are broken, blood is spilled, the Select have to destroy the one thing that might save them all.
Review: The characters. As a Select and a bearer of G7W, a gene which could give you exceptional talents and skills, you would expect them to be extra ordinary in some ways right? It did hold true for Ally and Cass, but as for Jack, let's just say up until this point, I couldn't see anything special about him. Charismatic and resourceful yes. But the kind that Ally, Cass, and Marco have? I don't think so.
Also, our main character faints alot. It really is not such a big deal but considering they were conditioned to protect themselves and to fight, well, you would expect some kind of a fight scene that doesn't involve running away or throwing something random at an enemy, now would you? It's like all their hard work were thrown out of the window. It's pretty much useless so why bother telling the readers that they were trained? On the bright side, you get to see them work things out through their wits, Some were actually pretty funny and decent. Whilst other were kind of forced.
What stopped me from giving it four stars was the fact that the author failed to make me feel connected to the characters. I don't seem to mind what will happen to them to the point when something extremely tragic happened to the characters. I barely even felt an ounce of remorse. For the sake of not giving away any spoiler,let's just say that this one particular moment was supposed to make me feel extremely sad for them, but you know. And mind you, I am a very emotional person.
I think the only time I was moved was when Jack got together with his Dad. I wouldn't even deny that I got teary-eyed on that part. The rest though, I could hardly care.
All in all, this was a quick, fun and easy read kind of book. Full of adventures and settings which could delight any kids or kids at heart. You could definitely find yourself chuckling a couple of times throughout your reading experience. The author brings you to alot of cool new places, unlike the second book which was mostly stuck in Babylon parallel world, so it doesn't sound repetitive. But if you are looking for something less than your formulaic usual read then I don't think you would love it. Liking it though is very plausible.
Labels: Fantasy, Peter Lerangis, Seven Wonders, Tomb of Shadows, Young Adult
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Lorien Legacies: I Am Number Four
Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Time: 6:21 AM
Author: Pittacus Lore
Ratings: 4.5/5
Synopsis: None of us came here. We look like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books -- but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England
And Number Three in Kenya
I am Number Four
I am next.
Review: The story revolves around the "9" aliens or Lorics from the ravaged planet Lorien. They are called "Garde" because of their special powers, called Legacies, which not everyone has in the planet. They came here with their guardians who are supposed to keep them safe because they're the ones who will save the Earth. And get Lorien back.
Unfortunately, their enemy, the ones who ruined Lorien followed them on Earth. The 9 are protected by a special charm that allows them to be safe as long as the one preceding them is not killed. They can only be killed according to their number. Unfortunately for John, Number Four, the first three were already dead. The story actually revolves around Number Four. And the story slowly unfolds as to their history. The plot slowly reveals the powers that John has inherited from the elder Garde.
John has never really developed any close relationships with other people except for Henri, his guardian. However, once he got the signal that Number Thre is already dead - they get this searing pain and mark etched on their flesh. Dark Mark, anyone? - he and Henri decided that it's time to go. They went to this sleepy town called Paradise in Ohio and there, he meets Sarah and like every other story with a teenage boy and a teenage girl, they fall in love. Everything goes peachy until the Mogadorians tracked them and they had no choice but to fight?
Who wins?
Go read the book. I swear it's a good read.
The only thing I didn't look like about the plot is that it felt a bit too dragging especially on the part where he and Sarah were growing more in love. Furthermore the sudden entry of a surprise character in the end just really caught me by no surprise. It was good, perhaps it was needed, but there was no foreshadowing at all and it just felt confusing.
The story has all the elements of a good read: light humour, action, adventure and a bit of romance. There is also the play on family ties and solid friendship. I likednthe way it was written because the friendship and romance didn't feel shallow to me. I think John's relationships were really established, which helped cement the emotion behind the succeeding scenes when Henri died and when his new friend Sam Goode stuck by him til the end.
It's a good read for anytime of the day and I recommend it.Labels: Action, Adventure, I Am Number Four, Lorien Legacies, Pittacus Lore, Sci-Fi, Young Adult
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The Mortal Instruments: City of Glass
Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Time: 6:42 AM
Author: Cassandra Clare
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law and breaking, the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies, But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? Whilst Jace realises exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?
Review: This book was utterly amazing, it was the best of The Mortal Instruments that I've read so far. It was flawlessly written. The characters were amazing once again and the romance was utterly gorgeous. I don't know why I've been putting off this book but I am so glad that I finally read it. It made me smile, it made me laugh, it made tear up and it made me fall in love with the characters all over again. This book was so insanely incredible, that I once had finished reading the last sentence on the page, I merely just sat there, smiling whilst hugging the book to my chest. If you haven't yet read the City of Glass, you should, as soon as possible.
In the City of Glass, Clary's mom Jocelyn is still in comatose state in the hospital. In order to save her mother's life, Clary needs to travel to The Glass City, otherwise known as Alicante in Idris to try and find a warlock who will help Clary find the antidote to cure her mom. When Jace refuses to take her, as he knows about all the possible dangers there, Clary decided to find her own way in.
Despite Clary's worry about saving her mother, there are even more deadly issues she needs to think about. Her and Jace's father, Valentine, already has two of the Mortal Instruments and he just needs the third one, the Mirror to complete his ruthless plan. The only way the Shadowhunters will be able to fight him, is if they join up with the Downworlders in a bid to save the entire Nephilim race, which Valentine so cruelly wants pure that he is willing to kill all of them in the process, But with the wariness between the two groups, it's looking like an impossible feat to get them to work side-by-side, but if they don't, the world as they know it will be destroyed.
I don't actually know what to say, all that I can say is that I utterly adored this book. It was magical, it was enchanting,it was heart-breaking yet simultaneously uplifting. There were so many fantastic twists, although some of them did seem quite predictable to me and I guessed them before they happened.
With Cassandra's books, I find they are quite hard to get into at times, I don't know if I am the only one or not who finds that. However, there's a certain points in her books where the plot starts thickening, the pace picks up and before you know it you've read a handful of chapters. In the City of Glass, like the other books of her I've read, I wasn't completely grasped immediately but as I kept reading there was a certain point in the novel where I started devouring the words I couldn't get the words and I couldn't get enough. City of Glass was incredibly fast-paced and I flew through pages. There was so much action and suspense and there were times where I couldn't catch my breath for all the astounding things that were happening.
Cassa.ndra Clare is an author who obtains a raw natural talent for writing. Everything is so extremely vivid, I can see everything in my mind laid out before me. She brings the characters to life, she makes the places in the story feel like a place you've physically visited. She is a phenomenal writer. She creates these characters that are so real and so unique. This whole world she has created is magical and captivating.
The plot was impeccable. There were things that saddened me in this book, especially the one death of a certain character which was so unnecessary and so cruel. All the questions we've been asking since the first book were answered in this book. I, unfortunately, saw huge spoilers before I managed to read City of Glass, so there were some things I was expecting. But there were also many surprises I wasn't expecting. I think it's incredible how Cassandra Clare has lain these little clues throughout the story. I only realised now how complicated the whole story is and how she's given us hints throughout the first three books that leads us to finally see the big picture which is quite surprising, although I did guess some of the stuff even without the spoilers.
The characters all grew in this book, and you could see the clear change in them from the beginning of the series to now.
In the City of Glass, you could see how vulnerable Jace felt and how that facade of not being phased by anything completely just fall away and reveal the lonely, doubtful boy inside. I love how Clary made him feel whole and I believe that the two kf them will complete each other and wash away any of the doubt and the feelings of helplessness inside either one of them.
Although I really like Clary, she infuriated me in the City of Glass in the beginning. She was incredibly stubborn and often didn't think things through, but then again, if she didn't go ahead and make her own decisions, no one would have done anything about the mass of problems they were facing.
Clary really impressed me towards the end, and although she doesn't necessarily physically fit (she hasn't ever been trained so I don't blame her) but she does other things which I find rather awesome. I love how she also explains how she sees things from an artist's perspyective and her power is awesome, too.
I love Simon. He has changed alot since the first book. And I miss the old Simon. The quiet, nerdy, Simon. I also adore this Simon too, though. I like how he is able to take any comments thrown at him now and come back with something equally witty. U love that even though he's physically changed, he is still so sweet and has such a wonderful personality. He has a true personality and I hope he'll find a soul mate like Clary has found in Jace.
The supporting characters are fantastic, too. I love Isabelle, it was interesting seeing a more gentle, softer side to her. I also love that Alec has become more self-confident and that he isn't so afraid to accept who he is anymore. Magnus is utter perfection, I adore him. He's so fun and sarcastic and adds so much to the story.
It was interesting being introduced to the new characters and seeing the role they played in the story. Especially Sebastian, who I won't say anything in case it spoils your reading but you'll be quite surprised.
The City of Glass is the third book in the highly-acclaimed The Mortal Instruments series. Cassandra Clare has once again created a finely woven tale filled with stunning characters who will make you smile, who will make you cry and have your heart filling with love for them. She has concocted the perfect blend of a dark fantasy, mythical creatures, charismatic characters, a beautiful love story and an intense plot that will leave you shocked. Her writing is heavenly and she paints the pictures so clearly. All this merged together creates an unforgettable story about life, love, and family and the depths a person will go to, and the new found strength that they'll find inside themselves in order to overcome their inner demons in order to save the person they love. A magical, captivating story.
Labels: Cassandra Clare, City of Glass, The Mortal Instruments, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
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My Sister's Keeper
Date: Sunday, January 17, 2016
Time: 9:12 PM
Author: Jodi Picoult
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never challenged... until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers. she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
Review: I knew that her stories are not the happiest stories out there and that they can be depressing. At least this one definitely is depressing and I know some people who should not read it because it would just not be right for them. This book is not recommendable for people who enjoy stories with happy endings or funny stories - This book definitely isn't that.
But it is something different - it talks about something that can happen to all of us. It talks about having a serious deadly illness and many families are forced to deal with this situation day by day in real life. Jodi Picoult describes the situation from all different perspectives of all family members and all people involved in the issue. Mainly, it is about Anna who is the healthy sister of Kate who has leukemia. Anna does not want to be treated as a stock of body parts to keep her sister alive. As much as she loves her sister, she just want to be treated as a normal person and wants to feel as loved by her parents as they love Kate.
For the reader, the book is quite challenging since you kind of understand all positions of all people involved. It is clear that Kate and her parents want to anything to keep Anna donating for her sister but on the other hand, there is Anna and her feelings. You see where she is coming from. She does not want to be the donor for Kate. She just want to be with herself. She wants her parents to understand that she has her own life and that she cannot just be there to save Kate's life.
Many parts of the book made me think about what is ethically and morally correct. Should we have a kid that is created with specific genetics? Some people would argue that this is not the natural way and thus, unethical. Also the situation of the lawyer seems pretty bad. Sometimes it is hard to see that he is just trying to do everything to get through with his client's case even if that means Kate has to die. But he manages to explain quite well why he does not really have another chance.
This story made me think alot. It made me thing about what is right and what is wrong and in the end I ended up in a dilemma that I would never be able to solve. I could understand all situations of all people involved which means that everyone is right if you look at the situation from their perspective. In the end, the problems solves itself in a really unexpected way. I had never imagined the book to finish with such a surprising ending.
I enjoyed My Sister's Keeper very much but not because of the story itself which in fact is really sad. It is more about the fact that the books made me think and I really like books like this. I could not read them all the time since they are really deep but once in awhile I like challenging myself and get myself into thinking about dilemmas such as the one described in this book. I am definitely going to read more of Jodi Picoult's novels.Labels: Drama, Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper, Young Adult
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The Mortality Doctrine: The Eye of Minds
Date: Saturday, January 16, 2016
Time: 6:09 AM
Author: James Dashner
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: Michael is a gamer. And like most gamers, he almost spends more time on the VirtNet than in the actual world. The VirtNet offers total mind and body immersion, and it's addictive. Thanks to technology, anyone with enough money can experience fantasy worlds, risk their life without the chance of death, or just hang around with Virt-friends. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun. Why bother following the rules when most of them are dumb, anyway?
But some rules were made for a reason. Some technology is too dangerous to fool with. And recent reports claim that one gamer is going beyond what any gamer has done before: he's holding players hostage inside the VirtNet. The effects are horrific - the hostages have all been declared brain-dead. Yet the gamer's motives are a mystery.
The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker. And they've been watching Michael. They want him on their team. But the risk is enormous. If he accepts their challenge, Michael will need to go off the VirtNet grid. There are back alleys and corners in the system human eyes have never seen and predators he can't even fathom - and there's the possibility that the line between game and reality will be blurred forever.
Review: James Dashner does it again. A competent successor to The Maze Runner series, The Eye of Minds is a captivating and suspenseful sci-fi adventure that left me craving the next installment of the trilogy.
The Eye of Minds follows the journey of Michael and his friends, Bryson and Sarah, as they tracked down a crooked madman hacker who has been using his skills in the VirtNet to corrupt others and render the human bodies of his victims brain dead.
In the world that Dashner establishes, those who can afford to purchase a "Coffin", the piece of technology that can transport the mind to the VirtNet, are empowered with the ability to explore an almost limitless world, in which death does not exist. When reading, it is evident that Dashner put alot of detail and forethought into the workings and infrastructure of the VirtNet, and this is what really makes the world that Michael lives in an original one.
As for the characters, I found the dialogue that they exchange amongst themselves entertaining, but I could muster nothing on a more profound level. Although the frequent exchanges of banter and sarcasm among the trio of friends brought a sense of realism to the story, I did not sympathise with or relate to any of the characters on a deeper level, which I presume has to do with the lack of character insight and development throughout the course of the novel.
Although the premise of the book kept me turning page after page, I began to lose interest somewhere near the hundred page mark, when Michael and his friends are in throes of their journey. This was undoubtedly influenced by the repetitive nature of the tasks that the characters faced. After they moved past an obstacle, another would appear shortly after, and following that one's completion, the characters would be faced with yet another obstacle to overcome, and so on and so forth. This is where I began to focus less on the character's current situation and just wanted to reach the final pages of the book to discover what conclusion was in store. However, I put my big girl panties on, sat down and read through it all.
Good decision. After braving through the book's drier sections, fueled primarily by anticipation of its conclusion, I was presented with a major completely unexpected plot twist. And boy, was it a twist - the kind that causes the story to make sense on an entirely new level. I won't delve into further details for obvious spoiler avoiding reasons, but I will mention that upon reflection, I realised that Dashner does provide subtle clues that foreshadow the plot's sudden twist. However, I had gullibly attributed these clues to a cause that Dashner leads the reader to believe, but is essentially a distraction from their real cause, which only contributes further to the element of surprise contained in those last few pages.
Overall, despite my criticisms of the book, I recommend this to any YA'ers out there who are craving a sci-fi adventure with a hint of danger and mystery. Read through the weaker spots and you will encounter an ending well worth the wait.Labels: Action, Adventure, Gaming, James Dashner, Sci-Fi, The Eye of Minds, The Mortality Doctrine, Young Adult
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The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes
Date: Thursday, January 14, 2016
Time: 1:51 AM
Author: Cassandra Clare
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Clary Fray just wishes that her life could go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go - especially her handsome, infuriating newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?
Review: When I read City of Bones I was completely blown away by the ending's twist... but then unfortunately I saw spoilers, lots of them, for basically the whole series and I almost didn't want to continue reading because I now knew what happened,
City of Ashes was (if possible) even slightly better than City of Bones. The amount of action and the frequent twists, a few which completely broke my heart if you want to know, the continuation of how things ended in City of Bones and the few new characters we were introduced provided even more to the complex story.
In City of Ashes, I feel like everyone is trying to place their lives back together and continue living normally, as if nothing happened at all. There's Clary , who is still adjusting to the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders and coming to terms that she's the one, herself. She's trying to live a normal life, but unfortunately it's not easy to do that when she's constantly having danger thrown at her well as having to attack terrifying demons and trying to love Simon the way she loves Jace and trying to love Simon the way she loves Jace and try to love Jace the way she really loves Simon.
Jace who is still reeling from the shock that him and Clary are related and struggling to contain his feelings for her.
Simon is enjoying it that he can finally be with Clary, yet he still crushing feeling despair when he sees her look at Jace the way he yearns for her to look at him.
However, they all have to place their personal feelings aside when a devastating event happens that rocks the Shadowhunter world. The second Mortal Instruments has been stolen, as well as a brutal attack on the invisible World's most powerful, feared Shadowhunters. The vicious Inquisitor suspects Jace of being tangles in this web of murder, lies and betrayal. The Lightwoods, as well as Clary, try to prove Jace's innocence. However, when Jace is approached with the choice to destroy the Clave in exchange for the ultimate safety of those he cares about, surely he wouldn't go through with it? But then again, love makes a person do all kinds of preposterous things.
I honestly didn't think any of the books would be better than the first book, City of Bones, but I was proved wrong. Cassandra Clare did it again, she created a riveting masterpiece wit more shocking moments and more stunning words strung together to create yet another complex story. I loved City of Ashes, it was utterly fantastic. I got to see developing relationships between the characters and more action than in the previous book. You have to prepare yourself, there will be moments that will leave you completely dumbfounded and possibly not able to read for a moment or so in order for new, astounding revelations to sink in. This book is perfect in every way.
In the first book, we were introduced to the Shadowhunter world. Introduced to the inhabitants of the Institute as well as the abundance of mythical creatures lurking in seemingly mundane places. We were acquainted with the characters' stories from their past, well most of it, and I, the reader, was finding my foothold in this new world. In City of Ashes, the author provided us with development of the characters and blossoming romances.
I liked that in this book we were able to learn more about other characters, and it wasn't mainly focused on Clary and Jace, not that I would mind that wither. We really begun to see how all the characters felt and I found it extremely interesting to gain entrance into the characters' heads that I hadn't been able to in City of Bones.
I liked Clary even more in this book. She was as feisty as ever yet we begun to see a more vulnerable side to her. A side that is struggling to claim the normality of her old life, the one one she lived before she was suddenly shoved into the Shadowhunter world. I loved learning about Clary's new powers. I thought it was extremely cool that she could create new runes by simply thinking of words then drawing the runes and the way she referred to sseing things as an artist and the way she completely gets lost in her own world when she draws.
Jace... I love him. In City of Bones I had this notion that he was this bad boy that didn't think his actions through and often ended up damaging a person's feelings in the process. My thoughts of him were dramatically changed in City of Ashes. I love seeing his sensitive, caring side slowly seep through the cracks in his armour, the emotions brought on by Clary and thnegligence from his family. I saw that all he wanted in his life was to be held by the girl he loved, to love her freely.. but he can't because that girl is Clary, his newly-found sister. You could feel the pain rolling off him and the invisible manacles keeping him from being with her. Jace, the independent, arrogant, boy displaying such tenderness and wounded despair will surprise you... he will make you fall utterly in love with him all over again.
Simon goes through some drastic changes, ones that left me in tears, comfort eating and not being able to continue reading for a good couple of minutes. The fact that he became a vampire shocked me to say the least. I has a feeling he was going to become something different, but I didn't even consider a vampire. It really saddened me to see him have to have his whole self altered like that, but it definitely was a surprise that shocked me. I miss the old, geeky Simon, this new super-human one just doesn't feel like him. Valetine, Clary, and Jace's supposed father, I never truly understood how powerful nor how evil Valentine was until this book. How he was willing to sacrifice the lives of anyone in order to get where he wanted to be, as well as killing innocent Downworlders in order to turn the angel-charged sword unto a demonic one. I truly saw how blind he was to the wrong things he was doing and he had this twisted misconception that it was for the right purpose.
I really connected with the secondary characters. I started to accept the beginning of a relationship between Magnus and Alec. I begun to see Alec in a different light and not as harsh as I viewed him to be in City of Bones. Isabelle grew on me too. I, at first thought she was an airhead that couldn't care much for others beside herself but she truly surprised me. I saw the strength of the sibling bond between her, Alec, Max, and Jace and it was heart-warming to watch. To see that they would lay their lives down for the other and scorn those who turned against those that they loved, brought tears to my eyes.
We are also introduced to Maia, whom I immediately liked. A fifteen-year old girl who had been turned into a werewolf by her violent ex-boyfriend, a girl who believes that the dangerous boys lurk beneath the most handsome faces. Whilst reading I could see the spark between her and Simon yet I was still quite surprised when he ending things with Clary.
The plot was once again mind-blowing. There were a couple of severe happenings, ones that had me in shocked disbelief.
Cassandra Clare really is an unbelievably talented author, with every book in the series, we familiarise ourselves with the characters a little more, dive deeper into their heads and see the workings of their brains. I love how this series is the key to a magical, enchanting, but simultaneously dangerous world where you can meet the characters that you've read about in story tales. Acquainting yourself with the real sides of them, not the sugar-coated version that were provided for us when we were younger. I love how this book takes place in seemingly normal 21st century Manhattan, but when you look close enough you begin to see the tell-signs of a whole new world. City of Ashes was filled to the brim with action, snarky humour and a forbidden love. The writing was once again stunning. Cassandra Clare has a true gift. I could picture everything so perfectly and it was just flawless. I wish every book was written with as much as description as in Cassandra's books.
City of Ashes was an extra ordinary sequel to the best selling City of Bones. With more action, more laughs. more tears, more demon-slaying and more chemistry between two certain characters. City of Ashes won't leave you disappointed, just slightly in tears from all the awesomeness you have just experienced. We learn more of the characters and their individual powers, more of the complicated story between Clary and Jace, as well as witnessing some devastating transformations of characters. I highly recommend this series to everyone. It's flawless.
Labels: Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes, The Mortal Instruments, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
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The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel
Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Time: 1:58 AM
Author: Cassandra Clare
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Magic is dangerous - but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen year old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks, and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organisation called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare abililty: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by - and torn between - two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keeps everyone in his life at arm's length... everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realises that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world... and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
Review: Clockwork Angel, well, Cassandra Clare's books in general are very popular. So when the time came around to read Clockwork Angel, I found myself hesitant towards starting it, and putting it off. Why? Because I had heard so amazing things about it, that my expectations were extremely high, and I didn't want to read it to find myself let down and disappointed, expecting to read a brilliant book but then finding it not so brilliant after all. However, Clockwork Angel swept me off my feet. With stunning characters, a well-crafted love triangle, descriptive writing, nail-biting action and sickening plot turns, Clockwork Angel will have you on the edge of the seat and in suspense.
The writing is stunning. The detail that is woven into the story makes it feel as if you are watching a movie rather than reading a book. I can see and imagine everything to its finest point. Her writing style makes me see the horse-drawn carriages with their plush velvet seats trundling along the roads. I can see the murky waters of the River Thames as it rises and falls as if it were breathing, I can see the terrifying clockwork automatons advancing on Tessa, their metallic arms reaching out for her, ready to grab. Cassandra Clare's ability to describe in such detail is certainly one of her many writing talents that defines her in the Young Adult writing community.
I adored the characters. Tessa, Will, Jem, Charlotte, Henry and even Jessamine and Sophie, had such unique personalities. Each of the characters stood out in their own way. Sometimes when I read a book the characters are so similar, that I can't discern which character is which unless it simply states so. Thankfully, the Clockwork Angel was not like that. I was also impressed that Cassandra Clare can write such a beautiful, emotional story told in third-person. Usually, for me, when a book is written in third person I can't relate to the characters at all and end up feeling no sympathy for them when the author wants you to feel sympathy. Cassandra did a stunning job of writing an engaging, descriptive and emotional novel written in third person narrative.
Tessa was amazing, I admire her so much. The tragic events she had to go through just made my heart break for her. And honestly, if I was Tessa, I would've been a wreck. And a hermit, I probably wouldn't ever leave the house again after my whole family dying or leaving. Yes it's not healthy but I think any normal person would be a bit paranoid... right? *silence*. Alrighty, moving on... Tessa was emotionally and physically strong. She didn't consistently whine about how unfair her life was, when she felt the urge the cry, she wouldn't cry in front of the characters, but bite back the tears that she thought would display weakness. If I was Tessa, I would've been a wreck, her mother died, then her Aunt Harriet, then her brother moved away, then she had to deal with the Dark Sisters and their torture they inflicted upon Tessa and then the shocking war and discovery that happened at the end of the book.
The love triangle really worked well in this book. I love Will and Jem equally. Will has this brooding, mysterious, bad boy vibe that jumps off him. And Jem is sweet, gentle, and kind. Even after finishing Clockwork Angel I still don't know which side I am on. I absolutely fell head-over-heels in-love with Will at the beginning, but then I was a bit disappointed with some of his actions, I felt like he could be quite a jerk sometimes and that made me dislike him just a tiny bit, but then he would be sweet, and sarcastic again and I loved him ever more than before.
I really like Jem, he's really sweet to Tessa and, indeed to everyone in the institute. When I found out about his illness and the slow death he was dying, it hit me like a crashing wave. I almost started crying, because I can't imagine Will without Jem, and the institute without him. So I am on both their sides. Don't make me choose.
The plot was just... wow. I haven't read a book that has contained so many shocking, heart-breaking twists since Divergent. I am telling you that my mouth was literally hanging open at some of the events. The things that were revealed to Tessa made my heart break for her, as she had been through enough turmoil but was heaped with even more worries as the story speeds along. The pacing was also great, in the beginning it felt a bit slow (literally only the prologue though) but it picked up pace almost immediately and I was swept into the magical yet frightening, world of warlocks, vampires, werewolves and whirring automatons.
Clockwork Angel is a splendid read. The writing is absolutely perfect in every way, the descriptions force you to see the beautiful, yet sometimes grotesque, scenes that the character experience. The characters are explained in detail and you begin to symphatise with them and know them. The romance is sweet, leaving you not always knowing which side you're on. The plot will leave you completely flabbergasted and craving the next book. Clockwork Angel is a stunning read that I would recommend to everyone. A completely faultless read...Labels: Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel, Fantasy, The Infernal Devices, Young Adult
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Insurgent
Date: Thursday, January 7, 2016
Time: 6:55 AM
Author: Veronica Roth
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: One choice can transform you - or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her. Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves - and herself - whilst grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge,and choices will become even more irrevocable - and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries and shifting relationships. Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
Review: I am not sure why I took so long to get around to reading Insurgent but I couldn't bring myself to read it straight after Divergent I think I just want to bask in the amazing feeling of experiencing Divergent first. Anyway, I decided to re-read Divergent and read Insurgent straight after in preparation of Allegiant and HOLY COW, it was amazing, astonishing and horrifyingly brilliant. I can't express my thoughts and feelings on how I feel about this. This might potentially be a dramatic review, just a warning.
Insurgent picks off exactly from where Divergent ended, with Tris and Tobias on the train trying to escape the crumbling world that has been ravaged by war, lives have been cost, factions are waging destruction on each other as well as factions being divided into smaller groups and joining with others. I shouldn't say anything more except that if you haven't read Insurgent, you need to. Preferably straight after you've read this review and stocked up on Nutella. Insurgent will have your heart pounding, your mind racing, your palms sweating and your whole view on their lives, and the story, completely altered.
Alot of people who reviewed Insurgent said it didn't live up to Divergent, but I loved it, I might take it so far as to say it was even slightly better than Divergent. Everything is so extremely different, from the characters' growths to the new revelations of the world Tris lives in. You might also, like myself, find how reading Insurgent overwhelms you with a strong sense of nostalgia for Divergent. It makes you miss the old times, the order and not the quite as brutal destruction that now envelops Tris' new world. I felt like I was literally in the story and, like the characters, I yearned for the better days. As you see how dramatically the characters have changed and how they've had to grow up, you will feel such a deep sympathy for them. All I can say is that this book is utterly amazing and that your mind will be blown by what you will discover in this book.
The amount of change of the characters showed in this novel was unexpected, but I loved learning their stories and seen their world through the new eyes they seemed to own. In Divergent, Tris was hardcore, she wouldn't let anyone get in her way, she would instantly fire a gun without thinking but due to the life-changing events that she has had to experience you begin to see her resolve slowly crumbling before your eyes and it saddened me, it really did, as I love Tris and she was one of the first YA characters I was ever introduced to and she will always hold a special place in my heart. I was so accustomed to seeing this daring, dauntless Tris and the new side she revealed in Insurgent was not what you would ever expect from her, her new side that would eventually let the tears come (without being taking self-pity on herself), who would give in to death without fighting back and the Tris who can't even pick up a gun. Her new side hinted of the fragility that was beneath the hardened facade she had to display in order to survive.
The events she had experience had broken her so much that she no longer valued her life and at times, all she wanted was escape. It was excruciating for me, as a reader who loves these characters more than any other characters, to see them ache like this, see them lose the once they love. You could see the grief, guilt, anger, frustration and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair envelope and Tris and the other characters, like a smothering blanket and I was rooting for her till the end that she would make it through this and she did, because Tris. Tris is brave and amazing and we should all strive to be a little like Tris.
Then there was Tobias who I just fell in love with all over again. I really begun to see just what a devastating impact his father's abuse had on his life and how it shaped him to be who he is. It was beautiful the way him and Tris loved each other and how they needed each other to survive in this world, but also knowing that they couldn't depend on each other to survive in this world, but also knowing that they couldn't depend on each other because the world they live in might cruelly rip them apart. Tobias and Tris' relationship was beautiful and it broke my heart when they were slowly slipping out of each other's grasp due to the world they live in.
When him and Tris were slowly drifting apart and been involuntarily distanced by the secrets they kept and the betrayal they felt at time. Whenever she lied to him again so that she could save someone else I wanted to shake her and yell at her that she was jeopardising such an amazing relationship whilst simultaneously risking her life and she's not thinking about what will happen if she dies, what will happen to Tobias.
I loved how in-depth the secondary characters were. From the ones I grew to love, to the ones I detested with passion, I absolutely adored Christina and how she forgave Tris for what she did and remained being a loyal friend and helping Tris on her latest rescue missions to save the world. I loved Uriah, Marlene, Tori and even Lynn. They all had their own distinct personalities. Then their were also the characters I loathed, ones that did evil to the world for their own guilty pleasure, yet you could still see all the complexes they themselves had and you could see why they became this way. There was one character that has been malicious and vile since Divergent yet partakes in a surprising courageous act, and then there is one character who was incredibly close to Tris and who I thought adored her and whom she loved, who then betrayed her. I was gobsmacked.
Veronica Roth has such impeccable skill, it's incredible.
The plot was amazing and I honestly I couldn't put Insurgent down, I needed to take deep breaths at some points to calm down, I needed to let the news sink in that yet another character I had grown to love had been brutally murdered, by force or by free will. I loved how I got to see more of Tris' world she lived in and how we got to learn more about the different factions and initiation processes. Every minute of Insurgent I read, I adored. Some parts would make my heart ache with a sweet, romantic, private moment shared and other parts I would want to let out a frustrated scream as to how Veronica Roth could think of doing this to the characters. And that ending, oh my that ending.
That ending. What the cheese cakes was that? So unexpected. I literally just stared in shock at this page and felt like my whole life had been a lie, as you can see my flair for being dramatic has now kicked in. Never when I first started reading Divergent did I expect this is what would become of Tris's society, how protected and sheltered they actually were by being placed in factions according to their personalities. I was shocked by the ending of Divergent and was excited as to where Veronica would take the next two books and Insurgent was mind-blowing, out of this world amazing, That ending had me literally feeling numb inside, it had me terrified as to what was going to meet Tris and the others the other side of the fence. Some people might now have liked how Veronica Roth ended Insurgent but I loved it and I absolutely am complete enthralled as to what will be happening in Allegiant.
I loved the writing in this, despite the cruelty and brutality in the writing. There were quite a few humorous moments that had me smiling and bookmarking the sentences. I love the way Veronica Roth writes the action and fighting scene as well, she writes it perfectly and it doesn't feel like the characters are treading through treacle like in some books I've read.
This was an astonishingly amazing, heartbreaking novel that shows what the cruelty humans are capable of and how destructive witnessing such horrors can destroy even the bravest of heroes, but how with love and friendship you can overcome any obstacle. Veronica Roth shows us her full potential in Insurgent and just how spectacular her writing skills are. This book has betrayal, love, war, romance, and will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. After reading this book and seeing what our destructive human nature can do and how guilty our mistakes can make us feel, you will want to try and be a better person. Veronica's books not only give me a look into a whole new world and have me running on adrenaline as well as being transfixed, but also teach me life lessons. Teach me how to be a better person. On almost every page there is quote worth noting. Read this book, it's honestly, simply, stunning.Labels: Action, Dystopian, Insurgent, Veronica Roth, Young Adult
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Dear John
Date: Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Time: 8:15 AM
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life - until he meets the girl of his dreams. Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into some kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in-love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read... and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love - and face the hardest decision of his life.
Review: It amazes me how a male author can write such a beautiful love story. Maybe it is because majority of the romance novels are written by women. Whatever the reason, I congratulate Nicholas Sparks on his ability to make me fall in love instantly with a fictional relationship.
The novel is written in first person by the protagonist John Tyree. There is something intriguing to me about a male protagonist in a love story. I guess it's a side I don't usually see. I love the vulnerability in Sparks' male characters, even in Dear John where we are presented with what could be a stereotypical macho character.
What I would consider to be Sparks' greatest triumph with this novel is his handling of John's father. It is honestly and beautifully done for me, in some ways, John's relationship with Savannah. Sparks ability to tell a story within a story especially through his portrayal of character relationships is wonderful to read.
My biggest issue with Sparks' books is the way he manages to make my heart ache. I always read one of his novels with a box of tissues close to hand. It is difficult sometimes to even enjoy his books because of his unshamed handling of human weaknesses.
What begins as a summer romance develops into a mature relationship in which choices that affect far more than just a love story. This novel built me up again. I give it 4/5. I was unable to put it down once I started reading. Except of course to refresh my tissues.Labels: Dear John, Drama, Love Story, Nicholas Sparks, Romance, Young Adult
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A Walk To Remember
Date:
Time: 7:19 AM
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: Landon is a sixteen-year old high student of Beaufort High School, North Carolina. Being a son of Congressman, who he rarely see in their house is normal. Being with his friends Eric and Margaret are even normal for him, for he used to be with them since grade school. But being the Student Body President is another thing, whilst signing up for Drama Class is definitely not his thing. Jamie Sullivan is surely the last girl in the world Landon wanted to marry but absolutely not the last girl to ask as a date for the school's homecoming. As Landon's world becomes closer to Jamie's, he'll find a plan he never thought fated for him.
Review: I stumbled upon reading this love story book. A risk indeed to read a different genre especially when it exempts among the genres you always think about. Thus, it doesn't just take twenty gulps to risk for it but takes time and sweat to decide the dillema whether to give it a shot or not. Lately, I decided to widen my braced genres and I thought this book is worth the risk to try. So as a love story as the title represents, I am afraid that the further words I will emancipate may loosen up the tightness of the statement I previously, in my reviews professed.
I was sure then before I tried that I wouldn't like this book, though I was in the mood to read this kind of book. The moment I fixed my eyes onto the surface of the first page of the book's prologue, my feet as if set foot onto the world of what I was reading. I became the main character. Marvelous really it is to say how amazing the approach of the main character's perspective to me as a reader. Truly effective. A perfect thing to add up is that the perspective used in the story is from a guy's character, considering that it gives perfect justice to how guy thinks, utters and acts.
The story composes of just simple elements: the typical story of ugly duckling that turns into swan; typical story of a jerk guy who fell in love to the swan; and a typical story of a man who'll do anything for love. The magic of how it turned out to be good is the summation of all those factors. Moreover, Sparks really used the overused concepts perfectly during the shifting of events, which of course a positive move for the book to become better.
I was told that the movie is way better than the book. Granted, for I am one of those unfortunates who hasn't watched the movie yet. Yes, I did not itch to watch the movie the moment it had been shown in cinemas nor did I eagerly wait for it in movie cable channels. But I am very much glad, for I think choosing to read first the movie over over watching the movie is one way or another, a smart decision.
I honestly admire Sparks for writing down the solid description of Jamie Sullivan, yet unknowingly behind her image is a great mystery. That despite of the best answer a normal person could offer to the reason of her action, there is still hidden truth behind it that alters the nearest possibility.
The greatest thing I liked about this book is the profound messages of the story behind what are written, though some are already given. I like how faith works at Jamie, that even though everything has been taken from her, she dignifies how her faith still remains. I was also touched at how simply a very kind person could turn oppositely to what they were. There is even presence of the true effects of love, which it leads the in-love human to think either sane or insane. And the story, in a way, emphasises how humans should give attention, importance and deeper understanding on the things that surround them not until it's too late. And the best of all is how faith can bring out the miracle to the surface out of the deepest pit.
I admit that that there were many times the book led me on the verge of tears. For I reckon that this book, no matter how cold-hearted I am, is no wonder a heart-moving one.Labels: A Walk To Remember, Drama, Love Story, Nicholas Sparks, Romance, Young Adult
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The Fault In Our Stars
Date: Monday, January 4, 2016
Time: 7:44 AM
Author: John Green
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
Review: Forget about Fifty Shades of Grey, Dark, Black, Pink or Purple!
One of the best books I've ever read. Very highly recommended. Motion sickness be damned. John Green broke my heart into tiny little pieces, this little book would be my Kryptonite.
The Fault In Our Stars introduces Green's first female protagonist. Hazel Grace Lancaster, who was diagnosed with a Stage IV Thyroid Cancer at the age of 12. By a medical miracle, she is now 16, but remain terminal knowing that one day, the cancer will come back to claim her. During a cancer support group meeting, she meets the enigmatic Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor who is instantly drawn to her. Cautious but also curious, she starts spending time with Augustus, inadvertently changing her life as she knows it. Conventional stories of cancer victims focus on their inspiring hope, faith, and strength. Forget that. At the end of the day, most of us would not be radiating sunshine if we were afflicted by the big "C". Anyone who has seen a loved one go through the pains of cancer or any other terminal illness can attest to the horrible impact that it has on patients. John Green recognises this and allows his characters to express the truth about mortality. His honesty on how patients feel on the day-to-day basis and the roller coaster of emotions they go through is authentic and leaves the reader with the very essence of what it is like to deal with the horrors of canciti. This was the first time I have had the pleasure of reading John Green's work and I am in love with his writing. He creates the most amazing, multi-dimensional characters that shatter the boundaries of a simple paper page. He is this incredibly intelligent man who writes incredibly intelligent things that makes you really think and wonder. And he has the ability to break hearts and mend them back together, in the most crooked way possible. There were lines that made me laugh out loud. There were lines that I had to highlight and re-read. There were lines that captured the feelings that I have but that I could never put into words. You should know that this book will make you cry. Alot. This book made my heart ache and my eyes burn with tears. There was just so much emotion in the pages of this book that it was so hard not to feel them. But it is so very worth it. It's a beautifully honest story about death, more importantly life. It will stay with you long after you read it. Have you read this book? What do you think of it?Labels: Drama, Fiction, John Green, Love Story, Romance, The Fault In Our Stars, Young Adult
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The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (An Eclipse Novella)
Date: Sunday, January 3, 2016
Time: 5:24 AM
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily poweful senses, superhuman reflexes, and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood... life before she became a vampire.
All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself, and above all make it home by sunrise or die. What doesn't she know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.
Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they only know as "her". As they come to realise that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagine, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth?
Review: The best part of this novella was being able to see things through the eyes of a real vampire. Bree was a likeable character and readers will feel for and understand her by the end. Bree was one of the smartest vampires in the coven, and was beginning to figure out what Riley and "her" were planning for the newborns. Bree and her fellow vampires were bring manipulated and lied to from the start, but only three of them realised this before it was too late.
The romantic interest, Diego was a sweet, adventurous guy who was one of the only vampires Bree could actually talk with. He was smart and understood something wasn't right with the coven, but unfortunately trusted some of the wrong people. He and Bree had a connection from the start and the scene when they discovered that light was actually not a death sentence was one of my favourites.
The other "good" vampire in the coven was Fred. Readers didn't know much about him to the end, when he started playing a bigger role, but he ended up being a great guy, and a good ally for Bree. He was also talented in a unique way that came in handy for Bree quite a few times. Bree, Diego, and Fred were also pretty much the only ones that even thought about the lives they were taking and the importance of keeping their existence secret.
There was alot of excitement and mystery in this novella and will have readers unable to put it down. The romance is sweet and small, buy you can feel the connection between Bree and Diego. It's sad to see how things turned out for Bree and her coven, and that you don't always know who to trust. One of the most interesting scenes was when Bree met Bella and the Cullens. It was intriguing to see her reaction to these mysterious "golden-eyed" vampires that kept a "human pet".
The ending was sad, but unfortunately, the way it had to be. Readers will feel alot of emotions through the course of this novel, especially the last 50 pages or so.
Overall, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner was a interesting, emotional, and romantic read that gives Twilight fans a glimpse into the life of a vampite other than the Cullens.Labels: Book Companion, Eclipse, Novella, Paranormal, Romance, Short Stories, Stephenie Meyer, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, The Twilight Saga, Young Adult
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Divergent
Date: Friday, January 1, 2016
Time: 3:04 AM
Author: Veronica Roth
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and the Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are - and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves... or it might destroy her.
Review: Sorry for the comparison, but Divergent largely remind me of The Hunger Games because that is one of the few dystopian book I've read. But I think Divergent brings something new to the table anyway, and Roth's writing style differed from Collins, so the comparison didn't hover in my mind whilst I was reading.
Now I understand what all the hullabaloo about Four was. He does sound fantastic and hot and just ideal. I half related to Tris, but not so much. I was able to relate to that wanting to be proper and good all the time but just couldn't. I could not relate, however, to her strength and ability to kill. I don't think I am strong or brave enough for that.
After reading, I couldn't help but which faction I'd choose if I lived in that world. I liked Erudite because I do like to learn. And I also liked Candor because I value honesty. But of the five factions, I will go for Dauntless, because I think they're the faction that teaches you to be most self-reliant and how to carry on.
All in all, Divergent was a nice surprise, and I think actually added value to my reading experience. I do love to venture in other categories/genres but I like it to take it slowly. My experience with The Hunger Games and Divergent has so far been good so I think I am going to read more of the same books.
Have you read Divergent? Which faction do you think you belong to or will choose to be part of?Labels: Action, Divergent, Dystopian, Veronica Roth, Young Adult
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The Hunger Games
Date:
Time: 2:06 AM
Author: Suzanne Collins
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Could you surivive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies in the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as death sentence when she keeps forward to take her sister's place in the games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender.
If she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will survival against humanity and life against love.
Review: Wow. Simply wow. I am awed by this book and to be dead honest with you, I don't actually know what to say. This novel was perfection, real, sweet perfection. Tried reading The Hunger Games moment after I bought the whole series but didn't like it, got up to Chapter Four and had to stop. But one time out of boredom, tried reading it again. I finished it in 2-3 days. Thinking back, I am not actually sure why I didn't like it back then, but I loved it the second time around and that's all that matters.
The Hunger Games is a young adult dystopian novel that in the nation of Panem, lies a Capitol surrounded by twelve districts. To make sure the districts obey them, each year each district, has to send a boy and a girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, on live TV where they will fight to the death. 24 tributes. One winner.
It felt like that that time, I was probably the last person on earth to read The Hunger Games. When someone used to ask me if I had read The Hunger Games and I would reply with a no, they would just stare at me. And I'd be like yep, whilst looking awkwardly at the ground. I am very proud to say that I have read The Hunger Games. It was an excellent, original novel. A hauntingly possible idea, real, fierce but lovable characters and an abundance of action, The Hunger Games will leave you craving for more, and I am extremely happy that I have read this stunning piece of literature.
The idea, the book, everything was amazing. The Hunger Games was a brutal event that I hope will never take place in our world. It's a horrifying thought that one day, however it possibly could.
The plot was perfect not for one minute did I get bored. I was intrigued from the beginning but I literally couldn't remove my eyes from the pages once it was announced that the 74th Hunger Games had begun, that's when my attention was even more focused than before.
Katniss is my new favourite fictional heroine, in fact she is probably even a role model to me. She stands up for those she loves and will literally fight to the death for them. It was amazing looking at her strategies on how to win and I was cheering her on the whole way. And since reading The Hunger Games I even wanted to craft a bow and arrow from the trees in my garden and I want to begin an archery lessons.
Peeta to be honest, I didn't like him that much in the beginning but he grew on me, he really did. You could see he actually really liked Katniss and he thought the romance was real but Katniss thought it wasn't authentic and her viewpoint was that the romance was just for the games and that ending practically broke my heart. I feel so sorry for Peeta and I just want Katniss to make it right because you could see the pain emanating from him when she spoke about the romance strategies and how she wasn't sure about her feelings for him.
The writing was fantastic. Suzanne Collins is a fantastic author. Her descriptions were perfection and I could imagine everything so clearly, as if it were a movie being played in front of me, and throughout the book it felt like I was Katniss as if I was experiencing all the pain, all the suffering she was going through, and her need to survive.
The Hunger Games was phenomenal and I just want to shout from the rooftops about how epic this novel is, and I am pretty sure I'll have thousands of people agreeing with me how amazing it is. Dealing with love, loss, survival and inner strength. The Hunger Games will knock you off your feet. You will feel the characters' need to survive, and you can feel the tragedy that consumes them when one of the others they are close to, dies. You just feel everything.
The Hunger Games is perfection.Labels: Action, Dystopian, Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games, Young Adult
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The Scorch Trials
Date: Thursday, December 31, 2015
Time: 9:13 PM
Author: James Dashner
Ratings: 3/5
Synopsis: Solving the Maze was supposed to be an end.
Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn't done yet. Phase two has just begun. The Scorch.
There are no rule . There is no help. You either make it or you die.
The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch - the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broke . All bets are off.
There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers' destruction - and they're determined to survive.
Review: Some people before they read the series, they already watched their movie adaptations. The effects and the concept visualisations according to them were excellent and worth watching actually. Screaming out of fear because of the breathtaking and surprising parts, like the scene when they were being chased by the Cranks... so on and so forth.
But... if you are a type of person who has already read the series before the movie, the outcome will be very disappointing. For real. And as for me I am also disappointed with the story.
The first book started out great. I mean, the fighting and chasing scenes between the Gladers and the Grievers left me openmouthed. It is shocking, fast-paced, and it's not boring. I understand that Dashner left us some mind-bugging questions about the WICKED and their sole purposes. I was actually waiting for an answer about it here in the second book. But it turns out empty. So here's my rant about it.
I really don't know how I am going to rate this book. At first, the story caught my attention, since it's full of thrilling and promising scenes, especially the part where Brenda and Thomas met Mr. Nose. They ventured upon different kinds of trials (which is fine with me since I am looking for that kind of story. I need a break from romantic/dramatic novels).
Even when I reached the half part of the story, I am still hooked up with it. But as I go on deeper, I find it exhausting. Yes, I feel exhausted with the things that are happening with Thomas and with the other Gladers. I am tired of those shucking lies and betrayals. I am annoyed with the endless experiments and tests done by the heartless WICKED. It's all too much for me to take that my head really ache . I was well -informed with the virus, The Flare, the Cranks, etc. I am so fed up with these details and it seems like Dashner restated those details over and over again. I was waiting for that cure, the blueprint. I was waiting for something new to happen, waiting for what they call progress... It's like they'll start all over again. Another dumbfounding challenge awaits.
And I was really annoyed with Thomas and his dreams. As if he was always sleeping within the entire story. That is so cliché.
"Wicked is good." But the story isn't.
I gave this novel a three since my expectations were turned down and the questions that were bugging me from the first book were left unanswered.
But it's still a must read for everyone. If you're looking for action-packed and if you already started reading you should continue.Labels: Action, Dystopian, James Dashner, Sci-Fi, The Scorch Trials, Young Adult
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The Maze Runner
Date:
Time: 7:38 PM
Author: James Dashner
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: If you ain't scared. You ain't human.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers - boys whose memories are also gone.
Nice to meet ya, Shank.
Welcome to the Glade.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless ever-changing maze. It's the only way out - and no one's ever made it through alive.
Everything is going to change.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Remember. Survive. Run.
Review: What made me read this book is because of its unique premise and story line. I never thought of being trapped inside a huge maze, and forced to live there for a long time. Thinking about it makes me cringe, and scared because what will happen if you get stuck in that maze, right?
"Looks like a maze," Thomas whispered, almost laughing to himself. As if things couldn't have gotten any stranger. They'd wiped his memory and put him inside a gigantic maze. It was all so crazy but it really did seem funny.
-Chapter 4, p. 26.
The story is well-written, I like how Dashner illustrate the whole setting of the story, in fact he really described it in a more accurate and specific way which really helped me to form a mental image or somehow, to visualise the concept of the whole plot of the story.
He glanced upward again, half expecting it to have changed back to normal. But it was all gray. Not cloudy, not twilight, not the early minutes of dawn. Just gray.
The sun had disappeared.
-Chapter 34, p. 218
The story also has that mood and it has that different kind of perspective when it comes to the characters. They're using words which we called "Glader's slang" like shanks, shuck-face, klunk, slim-it, slinthead and etc.
All I can is WOW! This novel did not disappoint me, well the movie adaptation does... because the story was alot more different in the film. (It has always been the issue. What's new?) It's a way too scary than the film because the details of the story was delivered in a more precise way. I imagined myself standing in the middle of the Glade, surrounded by the Griever's. I also imagined Minho saving me from them. It's not that I don't like Thomas, but Minho's much more attractive for me.
My heart aches for Chuck's death. He's one of the characters that I love next to Minho.
The Maze Runner is now my favourite dystopian novel. If you haven't read it, you're missing half of your life already Shanks!Labels: Action, Dystopian, James Dashner, Sci-Fi, The Maze Runner, Young Adult
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Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Demigod Files
Date:
Time: 7:11 AM
Author: Rick Riordan
Ratings: 4.5/5
Contents:
- Percy Jackson and the Stolen Chariot
- Percy Jackson and the Bronze Dragon
- Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades
Review: Rick Riordan whom I have called both my current favourite author and the American J.K. Rowling, I enjoyed The Demigod Files far more than I did the similar later, The Demigod Diaries by which I felt sadly let down if not betrayed. The Demigod Files' stories between four and five of the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series, a climactic time for the series. Percy Jackson was my introduction to Rick Riordan. Perhaps that's another reason why I prefer The Demigod Files to The Demigod Diaries.
Like The Demigod Diaries, The Demigod Files consists of three short stories by Rick Riordan alongside interviews with several key characters and a few easy puzzles. Also included are illustrations of some of the characters and a useful chart of the Greek gods, their domains, their sacred animals, and symbols.
All three of these short stories unlike those of The Demigod Diaries, are written from the point-of-view of Percy Jackson, who perhaps at least partially because of his familiarity and Riordan's ease in his voice, is one of my favourite of the many voices that I have seen Riordan capture.
In these stories Riordan expands several key side characters, especially Silena Beauregard. By the end of Percy Jackson and The Olympians and the beginning of The Heroes of Olympus, Silena is regarded in a better light by campers at Camp Half-Blood than I have ever regarded her, and the campers regard for her has always thrown me. She almost needs the bolstering from Percy Jackson and the Bronze Dragon.
The others with whom Percy interacts in these tales - Clarisse La Rue, Charles Beckendorf, Nico DiAngelo, and Thalia Grace - I did not need to learn more about them in these short stories, as I needed to learn more about Silena. And even the titan Iapetus. Where it was explained on why his memory has been wiped. But I was glad to spend time with them and to share in their adventures.
Riordan is a master of adventure stories. In all of these, the demigods faced monsters, deadlines, and impossible odds (the usual trials of Riordan book). Riordan also tempers all of the dread with his usual humour, a somewhat dry humor, I suppose that relies alot on a tone and sarcasm that does not match the situation. These stories are scattered with such lines as "A girl starts trying to kill you, you know she's into you" (p. 35), "One dragon can ruin your whole day" (p. 33), "It's great when you're a celebrity to squids" (p. 22). Out of context none of those have made me laugh, but when paired with imminent danger in which the demigod find himself, these nuggets of humour are so unexpected that they do wonders to lighten the tone without killing it. That balance of humour and peril takes talent.Labels: Fantasy, Percy Jackson and The Olympians, Rick Riordan, Short Stories, The Demigod Files, Young Adult
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Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Last Olympian
Date: Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Time: 10:49 PM
Author: Rick Riordan
Ratings: 4.5/5
Synopsis: All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the titans. Kronos is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, his power only grows.
The prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfold . And as the battle for Western Civilisation rages on the street of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.
Review: I tried to read the series as an e-book and I wasn't successful cus I feel dizzy every time so I decided to spend mega bucks to purchase the whole set. I simply love the whole plot because it came at a time when the literary world was inundated with too many stories on vampires and werewolves. Honestly, vampires are so passe. Hello, Buffy? And so far, nothing beats the love story, complexity, and magical elements in Buffy.
Anyway, it was about the supernatural as well but it involved Greek mythology - not your usual supernatural plot. I give this book a 4.5 because of the refreshing plot but it contained elements found in other books. I found similarities between Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. But anyway, I still enjoyed it despite the similarities in two books.
The Last Olympian is the last book in the series (total of five books in all if you didn't know it already) and finally, after four books of hinting about the prophecy, you finally get to find out what it means. And the prophecy says... you should read the book. Hint: Someone will die. In fact many "someone's" will die.
It basically points out that everything starts with home, with your family. I was actually surprised when I read that The Last Olympian was an unmentioned god in the previous four books and actually not thought of it very much. Good point though when she (yes, The Last Olympian is a female god) explains that home is important and that even when everyone else leaves, she stays.
For the positive side of the book, it's quite entertaining and kudos to the humour portrayed in each book. Plus points for the updated pop culture references. However, the story was just not complex enough for it to earn the title of "one of my favourites". Granted, it's a good book, a great plot, and fun to read.
But still do I recommend you to go and read it and pay all your hard-earned cash (or at least your parents' hard-earned cash) on these books? YES. Very much so. Or you can put it in your Christmas Wish List (since it's still around). It's great for light reading, a book good enough to read repeatedly.
Labels: Fantasy, Greek Mythology, Percy Jackson and The Olympians, Rick Riordan, The Last Olympian, Young Adult
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Demigods and Monsters
Authors: Various Authors
Edited by: Rick Riordan/Leah Wilson
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Spend a little more time in Percy Jackson's world - a place where the gods bike among us, monster man snack bars, and each of us has the potential to become a hero.
Find out:
- Why Dionysus might be actually be the best director Camp Half-Blood could have
- How to recognised a monster when you see one
- Why even if we aren't facing manticores and minotaurs, reading myth can still help us deal with the scary things in our lives.
Review: Demigods and Monsters is a compilation of comprehensive essays about anything related to the world of Percy Jackson and The Olympians series. It features the insights of eight famous authors (Rosemary Moore, Cameron Dokey, Paul Collins, Carolyn MacCullough, Ellen Steiner, The Gods Among Us, J&P Voelkel, Jen Han, Sarah Beth Durst, Hilary Wagner, Hilari Bell, Elizabeth E. Wein, Kathi Appelt, Sophie Mason, Nigel Rodgers) regarding the series and guess what? Rick Riordan himself wrote the introduction. That was just WOW.
I really appreciated what Rick wrote in the intro that is served as my fire of inspiration to read through the whole book. Mind you, I am not a sucker for overly technical papers that you'd just die of boredom. But this has totally changed my whole perspective of reading essays and of looking at books on a general note. I just couldn't believe that these authors could come up with alot of takes with a supposed-to-be straightforward series. You know what, the book actually gave me this feeling of being with a wizened man and he is telling me, "You are only seeing the outside.. Look closer.... Read closer." I hope you get what I mean.
From now on, I am most certain that I will look at books at a different level. It's like stepping outside of your comfort zone and just absorb the most extraordinary things that could happen. And then finally, putting it into writing. The essays that have been featured in this cover the following:
- Newbie guide to recognising a monster
- Monster in the retail world - Why should one take caution even when buying a donut?
- Fulfilling a heroic destiny even when one is suffering from a handicap
- Choosing between a life of being forever young and immortal; or being old and wrinkly
- Valid reasons of choosing an almost mad god to run kids summer camp
- How gods and goddesses affect our daily lives
- How would Percy Jackson fare when faced with other mythological monsters
- Do you really want a god or goddesses to become one of your parents?
- Just because one rules the World of the Dead doesn't mean he is wholly bad
- A comparative study between the heroes of the past and of today
- Having a handicap could very well mean that one is destined to fulfill extraordinary things
- The dangers of foreseeing the future - Do you really want to be a seer?
- Stories of the past would always be alive if we continue to believe in it... Influenced by it
- Comprehensive glossary of ancient Greek myth
How good is that? And the good thing is that the essays did not give lifeless accounts of the author's views. Instead, I was treated to amusing reminisces of the Percy Jackson scenes that I love and provided me with equally hilarious new stuff to think about. My favourite essays from this compilation would that be of MacCollough about being a hunter for Artemis and that of Wagner's take on Hades's and Nico's side of heroic goodness.
Would I recommend this book? ABSOLUTELY! This book is a perfect enlightenment for those who want to look closer, to imagine beyond the realms of what was written in the pages. If you are an aspiring book analyst, book reviewer, or a student cramming to get his/her books essays right, then this book is must
Labels: Anthologies, Book Companion, Demigods and Monsters, Greek Mythology, Leah Wilson, Percy Jackson and The Olympians, Rick Riordan, Spin Off, Young Adult
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Seven Wonders: Tomb of Shadows
Author: Peter Lerangis
Ratings: 3/5
Synopsis: The adventures unfolds in this third book in the best selling Seven Wonder series.
Three friends left.
Jack McKinley and his friends defeated the Colossus of Rhodes, unearthed the treasures of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and recovered two of the seven lost Loculi - only to find they've been betrayed.
Two sided split.
With Babylon in ruins, Marco on the Massa side, and ancient secrets coming unraveled, the Select don't know who to trust or where to turn. Their G7W powers are growing furious pace, their worlds have been turned upside down, and the Massa are on their heels. But Jack, Aly and Cass have no choice but to fight on.
One life lost.
With the fate of he world in the balance, the friends find the next stop on their quest, where they have to face down their own demons and engage in an epic battle with foes long gone. When promises are broken, blood is spilled, the Select have to destroy the one thing that might save them all.
Review: The characters. As a Select and a bearer of G7W, a gene which could give you exceptional talents and skills, you would expect them to be extra ordinary in some ways right? It did hold true for Ally and Cass, but as for Jack, let's just say up until this point, I couldn't see anything special about him. Charismatic and resourceful yes. But the kind that Ally, Cass, and Marco have? I don't think so.
Also, our main character faints alot. It really is not such a big deal but considering they were conditioned to protect themselves and to fight, well, you would expect some kind of a fight scene that doesn't involve running away or throwing something random at an enemy, now would you? It's like all their hard work were thrown out of the window. It's pretty much useless so why bother telling the readers that they were trained? On the bright side, you get to see them work things out through their wits, Some were actually pretty funny and decent. Whilst other were kind of forced.
What stopped me from giving it four stars was the fact that the author failed to make me feel connected to the characters. I don't seem to mind what will happen to them to the point when something extremely tragic happened to the characters. I barely even felt an ounce of remorse. For the sake of not giving away any spoiler,let's just say that this one particular moment was supposed to make me feel extremely sad for them, but you know. And mind you, I am a very emotional person.
I think the only time I was moved was when Jack got together with his Dad. I wouldn't even deny that I got teary-eyed on that part. The rest though, I could hardly care.
All in all, this was a quick, fun and easy read kind of book. Full of adventures and settings which could delight any kids or kids at heart. You could definitely find yourself chuckling a couple of times throughout your reading experience. The author brings you to alot of cool new places, unlike the second book which was mostly stuck in Babylon parallel world, so it doesn't sound repetitive. But if you are looking for something less than your formulaic usual read then I don't think you would love it. Liking it though is very plausible.
Labels: Fantasy, Peter Lerangis, Seven Wonders, Tomb of Shadows, Young Adult
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Lorien Legacies: I Am Number Four
Author: Pittacus Lore
Ratings: 4.5/5
Synopsis: None of us came here. We look like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books -- but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England
And Number Three in Kenya
I am Number Four
I am next.
Review: The story revolves around the "9" aliens or Lorics from the ravaged planet Lorien. They are called "Garde" because of their special powers, called Legacies, which not everyone has in the planet. They came here with their guardians who are supposed to keep them safe because they're the ones who will save the Earth. And get Lorien back.
Unfortunately, their enemy, the ones who ruined Lorien followed them on Earth. The 9 are protected by a special charm that allows them to be safe as long as the one preceding them is not killed. They can only be killed according to their number. Unfortunately for John, Number Four, the first three were already dead. The story actually revolves around Number Four. And the story slowly unfolds as to their history. The plot slowly reveals the powers that John has inherited from the elder Garde.
John has never really developed any close relationships with other people except for Henri, his guardian. However, once he got the signal that Number Thre is already dead - they get this searing pain and mark etched on their flesh. Dark Mark, anyone? - he and Henri decided that it's time to go. They went to this sleepy town called Paradise in Ohio and there, he meets Sarah and like every other story with a teenage boy and a teenage girl, they fall in love. Everything goes peachy until the Mogadorians tracked them and they had no choice but to fight?
Who wins?
Go read the book. I swear it's a good read.
The only thing I didn't look like about the plot is that it felt a bit too dragging especially on the part where he and Sarah were growing more in love. Furthermore the sudden entry of a surprise character in the end just really caught me by no surprise. It was good, perhaps it was needed, but there was no foreshadowing at all and it just felt confusing.
The story has all the elements of a good read: light humour, action, adventure and a bit of romance. There is also the play on family ties and solid friendship. I likednthe way it was written because the friendship and romance didn't feel shallow to me. I think John's relationships were really established, which helped cement the emotion behind the succeeding scenes when Henri died and when his new friend Sam Goode stuck by him til the end.
It's a good read for anytime of the day and I recommend it.Labels: Action, Adventure, I Am Number Four, Lorien Legacies, Pittacus Lore, Sci-Fi, Young Adult
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The Mortal Instruments: City of Glass
Author: Cassandra Clare
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law and breaking, the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies, But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? Whilst Jace realises exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?
Review: This book was utterly amazing, it was the best of The Mortal Instruments that I've read so far. It was flawlessly written. The characters were amazing once again and the romance was utterly gorgeous. I don't know why I've been putting off this book but I am so glad that I finally read it. It made me smile, it made me laugh, it made tear up and it made me fall in love with the characters all over again. This book was so insanely incredible, that I once had finished reading the last sentence on the page, I merely just sat there, smiling whilst hugging the book to my chest. If you haven't yet read the City of Glass, you should, as soon as possible.
In the City of Glass, Clary's mom Jocelyn is still in comatose state in the hospital. In order to save her mother's life, Clary needs to travel to The Glass City, otherwise known as Alicante in Idris to try and find a warlock who will help Clary find the antidote to cure her mom. When Jace refuses to take her, as he knows about all the possible dangers there, Clary decided to find her own way in.
Despite Clary's worry about saving her mother, there are even more deadly issues she needs to think about. Her and Jace's father, Valentine, already has two of the Mortal Instruments and he just needs the third one, the Mirror to complete his ruthless plan. The only way the Shadowhunters will be able to fight him, is if they join up with the Downworlders in a bid to save the entire Nephilim race, which Valentine so cruelly wants pure that he is willing to kill all of them in the process, But with the wariness between the two groups, it's looking like an impossible feat to get them to work side-by-side, but if they don't, the world as they know it will be destroyed.
I don't actually know what to say, all that I can say is that I utterly adored this book. It was magical, it was enchanting,it was heart-breaking yet simultaneously uplifting. There were so many fantastic twists, although some of them did seem quite predictable to me and I guessed them before they happened.
With Cassandra's books, I find they are quite hard to get into at times, I don't know if I am the only one or not who finds that. However, there's a certain points in her books where the plot starts thickening, the pace picks up and before you know it you've read a handful of chapters. In the City of Glass, like the other books of her I've read, I wasn't completely grasped immediately but as I kept reading there was a certain point in the novel where I started devouring the words I couldn't get the words and I couldn't get enough. City of Glass was incredibly fast-paced and I flew through pages. There was so much action and suspense and there were times where I couldn't catch my breath for all the astounding things that were happening.
Cassa.ndra Clare is an author who obtains a raw natural talent for writing. Everything is so extremely vivid, I can see everything in my mind laid out before me. She brings the characters to life, she makes the places in the story feel like a place you've physically visited. She is a phenomenal writer. She creates these characters that are so real and so unique. This whole world she has created is magical and captivating.
The plot was impeccable. There were things that saddened me in this book, especially the one death of a certain character which was so unnecessary and so cruel. All the questions we've been asking since the first book were answered in this book. I, unfortunately, saw huge spoilers before I managed to read City of Glass, so there were some things I was expecting. But there were also many surprises I wasn't expecting. I think it's incredible how Cassandra Clare has lain these little clues throughout the story. I only realised now how complicated the whole story is and how she's given us hints throughout the first three books that leads us to finally see the big picture which is quite surprising, although I did guess some of the stuff even without the spoilers.
The characters all grew in this book, and you could see the clear change in them from the beginning of the series to now.
In the City of Glass, you could see how vulnerable Jace felt and how that facade of not being phased by anything completely just fall away and reveal the lonely, doubtful boy inside. I love how Clary made him feel whole and I believe that the two kf them will complete each other and wash away any of the doubt and the feelings of helplessness inside either one of them.
Although I really like Clary, she infuriated me in the City of Glass in the beginning. She was incredibly stubborn and often didn't think things through, but then again, if she didn't go ahead and make her own decisions, no one would have done anything about the mass of problems they were facing.
Clary really impressed me towards the end, and although she doesn't necessarily physically fit (she hasn't ever been trained so I don't blame her) but she does other things which I find rather awesome. I love how she also explains how she sees things from an artist's perspyective and her power is awesome, too.
I love Simon. He has changed alot since the first book. And I miss the old Simon. The quiet, nerdy, Simon. I also adore this Simon too, though. I like how he is able to take any comments thrown at him now and come back with something equally witty. U love that even though he's physically changed, he is still so sweet and has such a wonderful personality. He has a true personality and I hope he'll find a soul mate like Clary has found in Jace.
The supporting characters are fantastic, too. I love Isabelle, it was interesting seeing a more gentle, softer side to her. I also love that Alec has become more self-confident and that he isn't so afraid to accept who he is anymore. Magnus is utter perfection, I adore him. He's so fun and sarcastic and adds so much to the story.
It was interesting being introduced to the new characters and seeing the role they played in the story. Especially Sebastian, who I won't say anything in case it spoils your reading but you'll be quite surprised.
The City of Glass is the third book in the highly-acclaimed The Mortal Instruments series. Cassandra Clare has once again created a finely woven tale filled with stunning characters who will make you smile, who will make you cry and have your heart filling with love for them. She has concocted the perfect blend of a dark fantasy, mythical creatures, charismatic characters, a beautiful love story and an intense plot that will leave you shocked. Her writing is heavenly and she paints the pictures so clearly. All this merged together creates an unforgettable story about life, love, and family and the depths a person will go to, and the new found strength that they'll find inside themselves in order to overcome their inner demons in order to save the person they love. A magical, captivating story.
Labels: Cassandra Clare, City of Glass, The Mortal Instruments, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
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My Sister's Keeper
Author: Jodi Picoult
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never challenged... until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers. she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
Review: I knew that her stories are not the happiest stories out there and that they can be depressing. At least this one definitely is depressing and I know some people who should not read it because it would just not be right for them. This book is not recommendable for people who enjoy stories with happy endings or funny stories - This book definitely isn't that.
But it is something different - it talks about something that can happen to all of us. It talks about having a serious deadly illness and many families are forced to deal with this situation day by day in real life. Jodi Picoult describes the situation from all different perspectives of all family members and all people involved in the issue. Mainly, it is about Anna who is the healthy sister of Kate who has leukemia. Anna does not want to be treated as a stock of body parts to keep her sister alive. As much as she loves her sister, she just want to be treated as a normal person and wants to feel as loved by her parents as they love Kate.
For the reader, the book is quite challenging since you kind of understand all positions of all people involved. It is clear that Kate and her parents want to anything to keep Anna donating for her sister but on the other hand, there is Anna and her feelings. You see where she is coming from. She does not want to be the donor for Kate. She just want to be with herself. She wants her parents to understand that she has her own life and that she cannot just be there to save Kate's life.
Many parts of the book made me think about what is ethically and morally correct. Should we have a kid that is created with specific genetics? Some people would argue that this is not the natural way and thus, unethical. Also the situation of the lawyer seems pretty bad. Sometimes it is hard to see that he is just trying to do everything to get through with his client's case even if that means Kate has to die. But he manages to explain quite well why he does not really have another chance.
This story made me think alot. It made me thing about what is right and what is wrong and in the end I ended up in a dilemma that I would never be able to solve. I could understand all situations of all people involved which means that everyone is right if you look at the situation from their perspective. In the end, the problems solves itself in a really unexpected way. I had never imagined the book to finish with such a surprising ending.
I enjoyed My Sister's Keeper very much but not because of the story itself which in fact is really sad. It is more about the fact that the books made me think and I really like books like this. I could not read them all the time since they are really deep but once in awhile I like challenging myself and get myself into thinking about dilemmas such as the one described in this book. I am definitely going to read more of Jodi Picoult's novels.Labels: Drama, Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper, Young Adult
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The Mortality Doctrine: The Eye of Minds
Author: James Dashner
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: Michael is a gamer. And like most gamers, he almost spends more time on the VirtNet than in the actual world. The VirtNet offers total mind and body immersion, and it's addictive. Thanks to technology, anyone with enough money can experience fantasy worlds, risk their life without the chance of death, or just hang around with Virt-friends. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun. Why bother following the rules when most of them are dumb, anyway?
But some rules were made for a reason. Some technology is too dangerous to fool with. And recent reports claim that one gamer is going beyond what any gamer has done before: he's holding players hostage inside the VirtNet. The effects are horrific - the hostages have all been declared brain-dead. Yet the gamer's motives are a mystery.
The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker. And they've been watching Michael. They want him on their team. But the risk is enormous. If he accepts their challenge, Michael will need to go off the VirtNet grid. There are back alleys and corners in the system human eyes have never seen and predators he can't even fathom - and there's the possibility that the line between game and reality will be blurred forever.
Review: James Dashner does it again. A competent successor to The Maze Runner series, The Eye of Minds is a captivating and suspenseful sci-fi adventure that left me craving the next installment of the trilogy.
The Eye of Minds follows the journey of Michael and his friends, Bryson and Sarah, as they tracked down a crooked madman hacker who has been using his skills in the VirtNet to corrupt others and render the human bodies of his victims brain dead.
In the world that Dashner establishes, those who can afford to purchase a "Coffin", the piece of technology that can transport the mind to the VirtNet, are empowered with the ability to explore an almost limitless world, in which death does not exist. When reading, it is evident that Dashner put alot of detail and forethought into the workings and infrastructure of the VirtNet, and this is what really makes the world that Michael lives in an original one.
As for the characters, I found the dialogue that they exchange amongst themselves entertaining, but I could muster nothing on a more profound level. Although the frequent exchanges of banter and sarcasm among the trio of friends brought a sense of realism to the story, I did not sympathise with or relate to any of the characters on a deeper level, which I presume has to do with the lack of character insight and development throughout the course of the novel.
Although the premise of the book kept me turning page after page, I began to lose interest somewhere near the hundred page mark, when Michael and his friends are in throes of their journey. This was undoubtedly influenced by the repetitive nature of the tasks that the characters faced. After they moved past an obstacle, another would appear shortly after, and following that one's completion, the characters would be faced with yet another obstacle to overcome, and so on and so forth. This is where I began to focus less on the character's current situation and just wanted to reach the final pages of the book to discover what conclusion was in store. However, I put my big girl panties on, sat down and read through it all.
Good decision. After braving through the book's drier sections, fueled primarily by anticipation of its conclusion, I was presented with a major completely unexpected plot twist. And boy, was it a twist - the kind that causes the story to make sense on an entirely new level. I won't delve into further details for obvious spoiler avoiding reasons, but I will mention that upon reflection, I realised that Dashner does provide subtle clues that foreshadow the plot's sudden twist. However, I had gullibly attributed these clues to a cause that Dashner leads the reader to believe, but is essentially a distraction from their real cause, which only contributes further to the element of surprise contained in those last few pages.
Overall, despite my criticisms of the book, I recommend this to any YA'ers out there who are craving a sci-fi adventure with a hint of danger and mystery. Read through the weaker spots and you will encounter an ending well worth the wait.Labels: Action, Adventure, Gaming, James Dashner, Sci-Fi, The Eye of Minds, The Mortality Doctrine, Young Adult
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The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes
Author: Cassandra Clare
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Clary Fray just wishes that her life could go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go - especially her handsome, infuriating newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?
Review: When I read City of Bones I was completely blown away by the ending's twist... but then unfortunately I saw spoilers, lots of them, for basically the whole series and I almost didn't want to continue reading because I now knew what happened,
City of Ashes was (if possible) even slightly better than City of Bones. The amount of action and the frequent twists, a few which completely broke my heart if you want to know, the continuation of how things ended in City of Bones and the few new characters we were introduced provided even more to the complex story.
In City of Ashes, I feel like everyone is trying to place their lives back together and continue living normally, as if nothing happened at all. There's Clary , who is still adjusting to the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders and coming to terms that she's the one, herself. She's trying to live a normal life, but unfortunately it's not easy to do that when she's constantly having danger thrown at her well as having to attack terrifying demons and trying to love Simon the way she loves Jace and trying to love Simon the way she loves Jace and try to love Jace the way she really loves Simon.
Jace who is still reeling from the shock that him and Clary are related and struggling to contain his feelings for her.
Simon is enjoying it that he can finally be with Clary, yet he still crushing feeling despair when he sees her look at Jace the way he yearns for her to look at him.
However, they all have to place their personal feelings aside when a devastating event happens that rocks the Shadowhunter world. The second Mortal Instruments has been stolen, as well as a brutal attack on the invisible World's most powerful, feared Shadowhunters. The vicious Inquisitor suspects Jace of being tangles in this web of murder, lies and betrayal. The Lightwoods, as well as Clary, try to prove Jace's innocence. However, when Jace is approached with the choice to destroy the Clave in exchange for the ultimate safety of those he cares about, surely he wouldn't go through with it? But then again, love makes a person do all kinds of preposterous things.
I honestly didn't think any of the books would be better than the first book, City of Bones, but I was proved wrong. Cassandra Clare did it again, she created a riveting masterpiece wit more shocking moments and more stunning words strung together to create yet another complex story. I loved City of Ashes, it was utterly fantastic. I got to see developing relationships between the characters and more action than in the previous book. You have to prepare yourself, there will be moments that will leave you completely dumbfounded and possibly not able to read for a moment or so in order for new, astounding revelations to sink in. This book is perfect in every way.
In the first book, we were introduced to the Shadowhunter world. Introduced to the inhabitants of the Institute as well as the abundance of mythical creatures lurking in seemingly mundane places. We were acquainted with the characters' stories from their past, well most of it, and I, the reader, was finding my foothold in this new world. In City of Ashes, the author provided us with development of the characters and blossoming romances.
I liked that in this book we were able to learn more about other characters, and it wasn't mainly focused on Clary and Jace, not that I would mind that wither. We really begun to see how all the characters felt and I found it extremely interesting to gain entrance into the characters' heads that I hadn't been able to in City of Bones.
I liked Clary even more in this book. She was as feisty as ever yet we begun to see a more vulnerable side to her. A side that is struggling to claim the normality of her old life, the one one she lived before she was suddenly shoved into the Shadowhunter world. I loved learning about Clary's new powers. I thought it was extremely cool that she could create new runes by simply thinking of words then drawing the runes and the way she referred to sseing things as an artist and the way she completely gets lost in her own world when she draws.
Jace... I love him. In City of Bones I had this notion that he was this bad boy that didn't think his actions through and often ended up damaging a person's feelings in the process. My thoughts of him were dramatically changed in City of Ashes. I love seeing his sensitive, caring side slowly seep through the cracks in his armour, the emotions brought on by Clary and thnegligence from his family. I saw that all he wanted in his life was to be held by the girl he loved, to love her freely.. but he can't because that girl is Clary, his newly-found sister. You could feel the pain rolling off him and the invisible manacles keeping him from being with her. Jace, the independent, arrogant, boy displaying such tenderness and wounded despair will surprise you... he will make you fall utterly in love with him all over again.
Simon goes through some drastic changes, ones that left me in tears, comfort eating and not being able to continue reading for a good couple of minutes. The fact that he became a vampire shocked me to say the least. I has a feeling he was going to become something different, but I didn't even consider a vampire. It really saddened me to see him have to have his whole self altered like that, but it definitely was a surprise that shocked me. I miss the old, geeky Simon, this new super-human one just doesn't feel like him. Valetine, Clary, and Jace's supposed father, I never truly understood how powerful nor how evil Valentine was until this book. How he was willing to sacrifice the lives of anyone in order to get where he wanted to be, as well as killing innocent Downworlders in order to turn the angel-charged sword unto a demonic one. I truly saw how blind he was to the wrong things he was doing and he had this twisted misconception that it was for the right purpose.
I really connected with the secondary characters. I started to accept the beginning of a relationship between Magnus and Alec. I begun to see Alec in a different light and not as harsh as I viewed him to be in City of Bones. Isabelle grew on me too. I, at first thought she was an airhead that couldn't care much for others beside herself but she truly surprised me. I saw the strength of the sibling bond between her, Alec, Max, and Jace and it was heart-warming to watch. To see that they would lay their lives down for the other and scorn those who turned against those that they loved, brought tears to my eyes.
We are also introduced to Maia, whom I immediately liked. A fifteen-year old girl who had been turned into a werewolf by her violent ex-boyfriend, a girl who believes that the dangerous boys lurk beneath the most handsome faces. Whilst reading I could see the spark between her and Simon yet I was still quite surprised when he ending things with Clary.
The plot was once again mind-blowing. There were a couple of severe happenings, ones that had me in shocked disbelief.
Cassandra Clare really is an unbelievably talented author, with every book in the series, we familiarise ourselves with the characters a little more, dive deeper into their heads and see the workings of their brains. I love how this series is the key to a magical, enchanting, but simultaneously dangerous world where you can meet the characters that you've read about in story tales. Acquainting yourself with the real sides of them, not the sugar-coated version that were provided for us when we were younger. I love how this book takes place in seemingly normal 21st century Manhattan, but when you look close enough you begin to see the tell-signs of a whole new world. City of Ashes was filled to the brim with action, snarky humour and a forbidden love. The writing was once again stunning. Cassandra Clare has a true gift. I could picture everything so perfectly and it was just flawless. I wish every book was written with as much as description as in Cassandra's books.
City of Ashes was an extra ordinary sequel to the best selling City of Bones. With more action, more laughs. more tears, more demon-slaying and more chemistry between two certain characters. City of Ashes won't leave you disappointed, just slightly in tears from all the awesomeness you have just experienced. We learn more of the characters and their individual powers, more of the complicated story between Clary and Jace, as well as witnessing some devastating transformations of characters. I highly recommend this series to everyone. It's flawless.
Labels: Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes, The Mortal Instruments, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
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The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Magic is dangerous - but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen year old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks, and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organisation called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare abililty: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by - and torn between - two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keeps everyone in his life at arm's length... everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realises that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world... and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
Review: Clockwork Angel, well, Cassandra Clare's books in general are very popular. So when the time came around to read Clockwork Angel, I found myself hesitant towards starting it, and putting it off. Why? Because I had heard so amazing things about it, that my expectations were extremely high, and I didn't want to read it to find myself let down and disappointed, expecting to read a brilliant book but then finding it not so brilliant after all. However, Clockwork Angel swept me off my feet. With stunning characters, a well-crafted love triangle, descriptive writing, nail-biting action and sickening plot turns, Clockwork Angel will have you on the edge of the seat and in suspense.
The writing is stunning. The detail that is woven into the story makes it feel as if you are watching a movie rather than reading a book. I can see and imagine everything to its finest point. Her writing style makes me see the horse-drawn carriages with their plush velvet seats trundling along the roads. I can see the murky waters of the River Thames as it rises and falls as if it were breathing, I can see the terrifying clockwork automatons advancing on Tessa, their metallic arms reaching out for her, ready to grab. Cassandra Clare's ability to describe in such detail is certainly one of her many writing talents that defines her in the Young Adult writing community.
I adored the characters. Tessa, Will, Jem, Charlotte, Henry and even Jessamine and Sophie, had such unique personalities. Each of the characters stood out in their own way. Sometimes when I read a book the characters are so similar, that I can't discern which character is which unless it simply states so. Thankfully, the Clockwork Angel was not like that. I was also impressed that Cassandra Clare can write such a beautiful, emotional story told in third-person. Usually, for me, when a book is written in third person I can't relate to the characters at all and end up feeling no sympathy for them when the author wants you to feel sympathy. Cassandra did a stunning job of writing an engaging, descriptive and emotional novel written in third person narrative.
Tessa was amazing, I admire her so much. The tragic events she had to go through just made my heart break for her. And honestly, if I was Tessa, I would've been a wreck. And a hermit, I probably wouldn't ever leave the house again after my whole family dying or leaving. Yes it's not healthy but I think any normal person would be a bit paranoid... right? *silence*. Alrighty, moving on... Tessa was emotionally and physically strong. She didn't consistently whine about how unfair her life was, when she felt the urge the cry, she wouldn't cry in front of the characters, but bite back the tears that she thought would display weakness. If I was Tessa, I would've been a wreck, her mother died, then her Aunt Harriet, then her brother moved away, then she had to deal with the Dark Sisters and their torture they inflicted upon Tessa and then the shocking war and discovery that happened at the end of the book.
The love triangle really worked well in this book. I love Will and Jem equally. Will has this brooding, mysterious, bad boy vibe that jumps off him. And Jem is sweet, gentle, and kind. Even after finishing Clockwork Angel I still don't know which side I am on. I absolutely fell head-over-heels in-love with Will at the beginning, but then I was a bit disappointed with some of his actions, I felt like he could be quite a jerk sometimes and that made me dislike him just a tiny bit, but then he would be sweet, and sarcastic again and I loved him ever more than before.
I really like Jem, he's really sweet to Tessa and, indeed to everyone in the institute. When I found out about his illness and the slow death he was dying, it hit me like a crashing wave. I almost started crying, because I can't imagine Will without Jem, and the institute without him. So I am on both their sides. Don't make me choose.
The plot was just... wow. I haven't read a book that has contained so many shocking, heart-breaking twists since Divergent. I am telling you that my mouth was literally hanging open at some of the events. The things that were revealed to Tessa made my heart break for her, as she had been through enough turmoil but was heaped with even more worries as the story speeds along. The pacing was also great, in the beginning it felt a bit slow (literally only the prologue though) but it picked up pace almost immediately and I was swept into the magical yet frightening, world of warlocks, vampires, werewolves and whirring automatons.
Clockwork Angel is a splendid read. The writing is absolutely perfect in every way, the descriptions force you to see the beautiful, yet sometimes grotesque, scenes that the character experience. The characters are explained in detail and you begin to symphatise with them and know them. The romance is sweet, leaving you not always knowing which side you're on. The plot will leave you completely flabbergasted and craving the next book. Clockwork Angel is a stunning read that I would recommend to everyone. A completely faultless read...Labels: Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel, Fantasy, The Infernal Devices, Young Adult
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Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: One choice can transform you - or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her. Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves - and herself - whilst grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge,and choices will become even more irrevocable - and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries and shifting relationships. Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
Review: I am not sure why I took so long to get around to reading Insurgent but I couldn't bring myself to read it straight after Divergent I think I just want to bask in the amazing feeling of experiencing Divergent first. Anyway, I decided to re-read Divergent and read Insurgent straight after in preparation of Allegiant and HOLY COW, it was amazing, astonishing and horrifyingly brilliant. I can't express my thoughts and feelings on how I feel about this. This might potentially be a dramatic review, just a warning.
Insurgent picks off exactly from where Divergent ended, with Tris and Tobias on the train trying to escape the crumbling world that has been ravaged by war, lives have been cost, factions are waging destruction on each other as well as factions being divided into smaller groups and joining with others. I shouldn't say anything more except that if you haven't read Insurgent, you need to. Preferably straight after you've read this review and stocked up on Nutella. Insurgent will have your heart pounding, your mind racing, your palms sweating and your whole view on their lives, and the story, completely altered.
Alot of people who reviewed Insurgent said it didn't live up to Divergent, but I loved it, I might take it so far as to say it was even slightly better than Divergent. Everything is so extremely different, from the characters' growths to the new revelations of the world Tris lives in. You might also, like myself, find how reading Insurgent overwhelms you with a strong sense of nostalgia for Divergent. It makes you miss the old times, the order and not the quite as brutal destruction that now envelops Tris' new world. I felt like I was literally in the story and, like the characters, I yearned for the better days. As you see how dramatically the characters have changed and how they've had to grow up, you will feel such a deep sympathy for them. All I can say is that this book is utterly amazing and that your mind will be blown by what you will discover in this book.
The amount of change of the characters showed in this novel was unexpected, but I loved learning their stories and seen their world through the new eyes they seemed to own. In Divergent, Tris was hardcore, she wouldn't let anyone get in her way, she would instantly fire a gun without thinking but due to the life-changing events that she has had to experience you begin to see her resolve slowly crumbling before your eyes and it saddened me, it really did, as I love Tris and she was one of the first YA characters I was ever introduced to and she will always hold a special place in my heart. I was so accustomed to seeing this daring, dauntless Tris and the new side she revealed in Insurgent was not what you would ever expect from her, her new side that would eventually let the tears come (without being taking self-pity on herself), who would give in to death without fighting back and the Tris who can't even pick up a gun. Her new side hinted of the fragility that was beneath the hardened facade she had to display in order to survive.
The events she had experience had broken her so much that she no longer valued her life and at times, all she wanted was escape. It was excruciating for me, as a reader who loves these characters more than any other characters, to see them ache like this, see them lose the once they love. You could see the grief, guilt, anger, frustration and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair envelope and Tris and the other characters, like a smothering blanket and I was rooting for her till the end that she would make it through this and she did, because Tris. Tris is brave and amazing and we should all strive to be a little like Tris.
Then there was Tobias who I just fell in love with all over again. I really begun to see just what a devastating impact his father's abuse had on his life and how it shaped him to be who he is. It was beautiful the way him and Tris loved each other and how they needed each other to survive in this world, but also knowing that they couldn't depend on each other to survive in this world, but also knowing that they couldn't depend on each other because the world they live in might cruelly rip them apart. Tobias and Tris' relationship was beautiful and it broke my heart when they were slowly slipping out of each other's grasp due to the world they live in.
When him and Tris were slowly drifting apart and been involuntarily distanced by the secrets they kept and the betrayal they felt at time. Whenever she lied to him again so that she could save someone else I wanted to shake her and yell at her that she was jeopardising such an amazing relationship whilst simultaneously risking her life and she's not thinking about what will happen if she dies, what will happen to Tobias.
I loved how in-depth the secondary characters were. From the ones I grew to love, to the ones I detested with passion, I absolutely adored Christina and how she forgave Tris for what she did and remained being a loyal friend and helping Tris on her latest rescue missions to save the world. I loved Uriah, Marlene, Tori and even Lynn. They all had their own distinct personalities. Then their were also the characters I loathed, ones that did evil to the world for their own guilty pleasure, yet you could still see all the complexes they themselves had and you could see why they became this way. There was one character that has been malicious and vile since Divergent yet partakes in a surprising courageous act, and then there is one character who was incredibly close to Tris and who I thought adored her and whom she loved, who then betrayed her. I was gobsmacked.
Veronica Roth has such impeccable skill, it's incredible.
The plot was amazing and I honestly I couldn't put Insurgent down, I needed to take deep breaths at some points to calm down, I needed to let the news sink in that yet another character I had grown to love had been brutally murdered, by force or by free will. I loved how I got to see more of Tris' world she lived in and how we got to learn more about the different factions and initiation processes. Every minute of Insurgent I read, I adored. Some parts would make my heart ache with a sweet, romantic, private moment shared and other parts I would want to let out a frustrated scream as to how Veronica Roth could think of doing this to the characters. And that ending, oh my that ending.
That ending. What the cheese cakes was that? So unexpected. I literally just stared in shock at this page and felt like my whole life had been a lie, as you can see my flair for being dramatic has now kicked in. Never when I first started reading Divergent did I expect this is what would become of Tris's society, how protected and sheltered they actually were by being placed in factions according to their personalities. I was shocked by the ending of Divergent and was excited as to where Veronica would take the next two books and Insurgent was mind-blowing, out of this world amazing, That ending had me literally feeling numb inside, it had me terrified as to what was going to meet Tris and the others the other side of the fence. Some people might now have liked how Veronica Roth ended Insurgent but I loved it and I absolutely am complete enthralled as to what will be happening in Allegiant.
I loved the writing in this, despite the cruelty and brutality in the writing. There were quite a few humorous moments that had me smiling and bookmarking the sentences. I love the way Veronica Roth writes the action and fighting scene as well, she writes it perfectly and it doesn't feel like the characters are treading through treacle like in some books I've read.
This was an astonishingly amazing, heartbreaking novel that shows what the cruelty humans are capable of and how destructive witnessing such horrors can destroy even the bravest of heroes, but how with love and friendship you can overcome any obstacle. Veronica Roth shows us her full potential in Insurgent and just how spectacular her writing skills are. This book has betrayal, love, war, romance, and will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. After reading this book and seeing what our destructive human nature can do and how guilty our mistakes can make us feel, you will want to try and be a better person. Veronica's books not only give me a look into a whole new world and have me running on adrenaline as well as being transfixed, but also teach me life lessons. Teach me how to be a better person. On almost every page there is quote worth noting. Read this book, it's honestly, simply, stunning.Labels: Action, Dystopian, Insurgent, Veronica Roth, Young Adult
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Dear John
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life - until he meets the girl of his dreams. Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into some kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in-love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read... and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love - and face the hardest decision of his life.
Review: It amazes me how a male author can write such a beautiful love story. Maybe it is because majority of the romance novels are written by women. Whatever the reason, I congratulate Nicholas Sparks on his ability to make me fall in love instantly with a fictional relationship.
The novel is written in first person by the protagonist John Tyree. There is something intriguing to me about a male protagonist in a love story. I guess it's a side I don't usually see. I love the vulnerability in Sparks' male characters, even in Dear John where we are presented with what could be a stereotypical macho character.
What I would consider to be Sparks' greatest triumph with this novel is his handling of John's father. It is honestly and beautifully done for me, in some ways, John's relationship with Savannah. Sparks ability to tell a story within a story especially through his portrayal of character relationships is wonderful to read.
My biggest issue with Sparks' books is the way he manages to make my heart ache. I always read one of his novels with a box of tissues close to hand. It is difficult sometimes to even enjoy his books because of his unshamed handling of human weaknesses.
What begins as a summer romance develops into a mature relationship in which choices that affect far more than just a love story. This novel built me up again. I give it 4/5. I was unable to put it down once I started reading. Except of course to refresh my tissues.Labels: Dear John, Drama, Love Story, Nicholas Sparks, Romance, Young Adult
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A Walk To Remember
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: Landon is a sixteen-year old high student of Beaufort High School, North Carolina. Being a son of Congressman, who he rarely see in their house is normal. Being with his friends Eric and Margaret are even normal for him, for he used to be with them since grade school. But being the Student Body President is another thing, whilst signing up for Drama Class is definitely not his thing. Jamie Sullivan is surely the last girl in the world Landon wanted to marry but absolutely not the last girl to ask as a date for the school's homecoming. As Landon's world becomes closer to Jamie's, he'll find a plan he never thought fated for him.
Review: I stumbled upon reading this love story book. A risk indeed to read a different genre especially when it exempts among the genres you always think about. Thus, it doesn't just take twenty gulps to risk for it but takes time and sweat to decide the dillema whether to give it a shot or not. Lately, I decided to widen my braced genres and I thought this book is worth the risk to try. So as a love story as the title represents, I am afraid that the further words I will emancipate may loosen up the tightness of the statement I previously, in my reviews professed.
I was sure then before I tried that I wouldn't like this book, though I was in the mood to read this kind of book. The moment I fixed my eyes onto the surface of the first page of the book's prologue, my feet as if set foot onto the world of what I was reading. I became the main character. Marvelous really it is to say how amazing the approach of the main character's perspective to me as a reader. Truly effective. A perfect thing to add up is that the perspective used in the story is from a guy's character, considering that it gives perfect justice to how guy thinks, utters and acts.
The story composes of just simple elements: the typical story of ugly duckling that turns into swan; typical story of a jerk guy who fell in love to the swan; and a typical story of a man who'll do anything for love. The magic of how it turned out to be good is the summation of all those factors. Moreover, Sparks really used the overused concepts perfectly during the shifting of events, which of course a positive move for the book to become better.
I was told that the movie is way better than the book. Granted, for I am one of those unfortunates who hasn't watched the movie yet. Yes, I did not itch to watch the movie the moment it had been shown in cinemas nor did I eagerly wait for it in movie cable channels. But I am very much glad, for I think choosing to read first the movie over over watching the movie is one way or another, a smart decision.
I honestly admire Sparks for writing down the solid description of Jamie Sullivan, yet unknowingly behind her image is a great mystery. That despite of the best answer a normal person could offer to the reason of her action, there is still hidden truth behind it that alters the nearest possibility.
The greatest thing I liked about this book is the profound messages of the story behind what are written, though some are already given. I like how faith works at Jamie, that even though everything has been taken from her, she dignifies how her faith still remains. I was also touched at how simply a very kind person could turn oppositely to what they were. There is even presence of the true effects of love, which it leads the in-love human to think either sane or insane. And the story, in a way, emphasises how humans should give attention, importance and deeper understanding on the things that surround them not until it's too late. And the best of all is how faith can bring out the miracle to the surface out of the deepest pit.
I admit that that there were many times the book led me on the verge of tears. For I reckon that this book, no matter how cold-hearted I am, is no wonder a heart-moving one.Labels: A Walk To Remember, Drama, Love Story, Nicholas Sparks, Romance, Young Adult
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The Fault In Our Stars
Author: John Green
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
Review: Forget about Fifty Shades of Grey, Dark, Black, Pink or Purple!
One of the best books I've ever read. Very highly recommended. Motion sickness be damned. John Green broke my heart into tiny little pieces, this little book would be my Kryptonite.
The Fault In Our Stars introduces Green's first female protagonist. Hazel Grace Lancaster, who was diagnosed with a Stage IV Thyroid Cancer at the age of 12. By a medical miracle, she is now 16, but remain terminal knowing that one day, the cancer will come back to claim her. During a cancer support group meeting, she meets the enigmatic Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor who is instantly drawn to her. Cautious but also curious, she starts spending time with Augustus, inadvertently changing her life as she knows it. Conventional stories of cancer victims focus on their inspiring hope, faith, and strength. Forget that. At the end of the day, most of us would not be radiating sunshine if we were afflicted by the big "C". Anyone who has seen a loved one go through the pains of cancer or any other terminal illness can attest to the horrible impact that it has on patients. John Green recognises this and allows his characters to express the truth about mortality. His honesty on how patients feel on the day-to-day basis and the roller coaster of emotions they go through is authentic and leaves the reader with the very essence of what it is like to deal with the horrors of canciti. This was the first time I have had the pleasure of reading John Green's work and I am in love with his writing. He creates the most amazing, multi-dimensional characters that shatter the boundaries of a simple paper page. He is this incredibly intelligent man who writes incredibly intelligent things that makes you really think and wonder. And he has the ability to break hearts and mend them back together, in the most crooked way possible. There were lines that made me laugh out loud. There were lines that I had to highlight and re-read. There were lines that captured the feelings that I have but that I could never put into words. You should know that this book will make you cry. Alot. This book made my heart ache and my eyes burn with tears. There was just so much emotion in the pages of this book that it was so hard not to feel them. But it is so very worth it. It's a beautifully honest story about death, more importantly life. It will stay with you long after you read it. Have you read this book? What do you think of it?Labels: Drama, Fiction, John Green, Love Story, Romance, The Fault In Our Stars, Young Adult
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The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (An Eclipse Novella)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily poweful senses, superhuman reflexes, and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood... life before she became a vampire.
All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself, and above all make it home by sunrise or die. What doesn't she know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.
Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they only know as "her". As they come to realise that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagine, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth?
Review: The best part of this novella was being able to see things through the eyes of a real vampire. Bree was a likeable character and readers will feel for and understand her by the end. Bree was one of the smartest vampires in the coven, and was beginning to figure out what Riley and "her" were planning for the newborns. Bree and her fellow vampires were bring manipulated and lied to from the start, but only three of them realised this before it was too late.
The romantic interest, Diego was a sweet, adventurous guy who was one of the only vampires Bree could actually talk with. He was smart and understood something wasn't right with the coven, but unfortunately trusted some of the wrong people. He and Bree had a connection from the start and the scene when they discovered that light was actually not a death sentence was one of my favourites.
The other "good" vampire in the coven was Fred. Readers didn't know much about him to the end, when he started playing a bigger role, but he ended up being a great guy, and a good ally for Bree. He was also talented in a unique way that came in handy for Bree quite a few times. Bree, Diego, and Fred were also pretty much the only ones that even thought about the lives they were taking and the importance of keeping their existence secret.
There was alot of excitement and mystery in this novella and will have readers unable to put it down. The romance is sweet and small, buy you can feel the connection between Bree and Diego. It's sad to see how things turned out for Bree and her coven, and that you don't always know who to trust. One of the most interesting scenes was when Bree met Bella and the Cullens. It was intriguing to see her reaction to these mysterious "golden-eyed" vampires that kept a "human pet".
The ending was sad, but unfortunately, the way it had to be. Readers will feel alot of emotions through the course of this novel, especially the last 50 pages or so.
Overall, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner was a interesting, emotional, and romantic read that gives Twilight fans a glimpse into the life of a vampite other than the Cullens.Labels: Book Companion, Eclipse, Novella, Paranormal, Romance, Short Stories, Stephenie Meyer, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, The Twilight Saga, Young Adult
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Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and the Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are - and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves... or it might destroy her.
Review: Sorry for the comparison, but Divergent largely remind me of The Hunger Games because that is one of the few dystopian book I've read. But I think Divergent brings something new to the table anyway, and Roth's writing style differed from Collins, so the comparison didn't hover in my mind whilst I was reading.
Now I understand what all the hullabaloo about Four was. He does sound fantastic and hot and just ideal. I half related to Tris, but not so much. I was able to relate to that wanting to be proper and good all the time but just couldn't. I could not relate, however, to her strength and ability to kill. I don't think I am strong or brave enough for that.
After reading, I couldn't help but which faction I'd choose if I lived in that world. I liked Erudite because I do like to learn. And I also liked Candor because I value honesty. But of the five factions, I will go for Dauntless, because I think they're the faction that teaches you to be most self-reliant and how to carry on.
All in all, Divergent was a nice surprise, and I think actually added value to my reading experience. I do love to venture in other categories/genres but I like it to take it slowly. My experience with The Hunger Games and Divergent has so far been good so I think I am going to read more of the same books.
Have you read Divergent? Which faction do you think you belong to or will choose to be part of?Labels: Action, Divergent, Dystopian, Veronica Roth, Young Adult
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The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Could you surivive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies in the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as death sentence when she keeps forward to take her sister's place in the games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender.
If she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will survival against humanity and life against love.
Review: Wow. Simply wow. I am awed by this book and to be dead honest with you, I don't actually know what to say. This novel was perfection, real, sweet perfection. Tried reading The Hunger Games moment after I bought the whole series but didn't like it, got up to Chapter Four and had to stop. But one time out of boredom, tried reading it again. I finished it in 2-3 days. Thinking back, I am not actually sure why I didn't like it back then, but I loved it the second time around and that's all that matters.
The Hunger Games is a young adult dystopian novel that in the nation of Panem, lies a Capitol surrounded by twelve districts. To make sure the districts obey them, each year each district, has to send a boy and a girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, on live TV where they will fight to the death. 24 tributes. One winner.
It felt like that that time, I was probably the last person on earth to read The Hunger Games. When someone used to ask me if I had read The Hunger Games and I would reply with a no, they would just stare at me. And I'd be like yep, whilst looking awkwardly at the ground. I am very proud to say that I have read The Hunger Games. It was an excellent, original novel. A hauntingly possible idea, real, fierce but lovable characters and an abundance of action, The Hunger Games will leave you craving for more, and I am extremely happy that I have read this stunning piece of literature.
The idea, the book, everything was amazing. The Hunger Games was a brutal event that I hope will never take place in our world. It's a horrifying thought that one day, however it possibly could.
The plot was perfect not for one minute did I get bored. I was intrigued from the beginning but I literally couldn't remove my eyes from the pages once it was announced that the 74th Hunger Games had begun, that's when my attention was even more focused than before.
Katniss is my new favourite fictional heroine, in fact she is probably even a role model to me. She stands up for those she loves and will literally fight to the death for them. It was amazing looking at her strategies on how to win and I was cheering her on the whole way. And since reading The Hunger Games I even wanted to craft a bow and arrow from the trees in my garden and I want to begin an archery lessons.
Peeta to be honest, I didn't like him that much in the beginning but he grew on me, he really did. You could see he actually really liked Katniss and he thought the romance was real but Katniss thought it wasn't authentic and her viewpoint was that the romance was just for the games and that ending practically broke my heart. I feel so sorry for Peeta and I just want Katniss to make it right because you could see the pain emanating from him when she spoke about the romance strategies and how she wasn't sure about her feelings for him.
The writing was fantastic. Suzanne Collins is a fantastic author. Her descriptions were perfection and I could imagine everything so clearly, as if it were a movie being played in front of me, and throughout the book it felt like I was Katniss as if I was experiencing all the pain, all the suffering she was going through, and her need to survive.
The Hunger Games was phenomenal and I just want to shout from the rooftops about how epic this novel is, and I am pretty sure I'll have thousands of people agreeing with me how amazing it is. Dealing with love, loss, survival and inner strength. The Hunger Games will knock you off your feet. You will feel the characters' need to survive, and you can feel the tragedy that consumes them when one of the others they are close to, dies. You just feel everything.
The Hunger Games is perfection.Labels: Action, Dystopian, Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games, Young Adult
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The Scorch Trials
Author: James Dashner
Ratings: 3/5
Synopsis: Solving the Maze was supposed to be an end.
Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn't done yet. Phase two has just begun. The Scorch.
There are no rule . There is no help. You either make it or you die.
The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch - the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broke . All bets are off.
There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers' destruction - and they're determined to survive.
Review: Some people before they read the series, they already watched their movie adaptations. The effects and the concept visualisations according to them were excellent and worth watching actually. Screaming out of fear because of the breathtaking and surprising parts, like the scene when they were being chased by the Cranks... so on and so forth.
But... if you are a type of person who has already read the series before the movie, the outcome will be very disappointing. For real. And as for me I am also disappointed with the story.
The first book started out great. I mean, the fighting and chasing scenes between the Gladers and the Grievers left me openmouthed. It is shocking, fast-paced, and it's not boring. I understand that Dashner left us some mind-bugging questions about the WICKED and their sole purposes. I was actually waiting for an answer about it here in the second book. But it turns out empty. So here's my rant about it.
I really don't know how I am going to rate this book. At first, the story caught my attention, since it's full of thrilling and promising scenes, especially the part where Brenda and Thomas met Mr. Nose. They ventured upon different kinds of trials (which is fine with me since I am looking for that kind of story. I need a break from romantic/dramatic novels).
Even when I reached the half part of the story, I am still hooked up with it. But as I go on deeper, I find it exhausting. Yes, I feel exhausted with the things that are happening with Thomas and with the other Gladers. I am tired of those shucking lies and betrayals. I am annoyed with the endless experiments and tests done by the heartless WICKED. It's all too much for me to take that my head really ache . I was well -informed with the virus, The Flare, the Cranks, etc. I am so fed up with these details and it seems like Dashner restated those details over and over again. I was waiting for that cure, the blueprint. I was waiting for something new to happen, waiting for what they call progress... It's like they'll start all over again. Another dumbfounding challenge awaits.
And I was really annoyed with Thomas and his dreams. As if he was always sleeping within the entire story. That is so cliché.
"Wicked is good." But the story isn't.
I gave this novel a three since my expectations were turned down and the questions that were bugging me from the first book were left unanswered.
But it's still a must read for everyone. If you're looking for action-packed and if you already started reading you should continue.Labels: Action, Dystopian, James Dashner, Sci-Fi, The Scorch Trials, Young Adult
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The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: If you ain't scared. You ain't human.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers - boys whose memories are also gone.
Nice to meet ya, Shank.
Welcome to the Glade.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless ever-changing maze. It's the only way out - and no one's ever made it through alive.
Everything is going to change.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Remember. Survive. Run.
Review: What made me read this book is because of its unique premise and story line. I never thought of being trapped inside a huge maze, and forced to live there for a long time. Thinking about it makes me cringe, and scared because what will happen if you get stuck in that maze, right?
"Looks like a maze," Thomas whispered, almost laughing to himself. As if things couldn't have gotten any stranger. They'd wiped his memory and put him inside a gigantic maze. It was all so crazy but it really did seem funny.
-Chapter 4, p. 26.
The story is well-written, I like how Dashner illustrate the whole setting of the story, in fact he really described it in a more accurate and specific way which really helped me to form a mental image or somehow, to visualise the concept of the whole plot of the story.
He glanced upward again, half expecting it to have changed back to normal. But it was all gray. Not cloudy, not twilight, not the early minutes of dawn. Just gray.
The sun had disappeared.
-Chapter 34, p. 218
The story also has that mood and it has that different kind of perspective when it comes to the characters. They're using words which we called "Glader's slang" like shanks, shuck-face, klunk, slim-it, slinthead and etc.
All I can is WOW! This novel did not disappoint me, well the movie adaptation does... because the story was alot more different in the film. (It has always been the issue. What's new?) It's a way too scary than the film because the details of the story was delivered in a more precise way. I imagined myself standing in the middle of the Glade, surrounded by the Griever's. I also imagined Minho saving me from them. It's not that I don't like Thomas, but Minho's much more attractive for me.
My heart aches for Chuck's death. He's one of the characters that I love next to Minho.
The Maze Runner is now my favourite dystopian novel. If you haven't read it, you're missing half of your life already Shanks!Labels: Action, Dystopian, James Dashner, Sci-Fi, The Maze Runner, Young Adult
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Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Demigod Files
Author: Rick Riordan
Ratings: 4.5/5
Contents:
- Percy Jackson and the Stolen Chariot
- Percy Jackson and the Bronze Dragon
- Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades
Review: Rick Riordan whom I have called both my current favourite author and the American J.K. Rowling, I enjoyed The Demigod Files far more than I did the similar later, The Demigod Diaries by which I felt sadly let down if not betrayed. The Demigod Files' stories between four and five of the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series, a climactic time for the series. Percy Jackson was my introduction to Rick Riordan. Perhaps that's another reason why I prefer The Demigod Files to The Demigod Diaries.
Like The Demigod Diaries, The Demigod Files consists of three short stories by Rick Riordan alongside interviews with several key characters and a few easy puzzles. Also included are illustrations of some of the characters and a useful chart of the Greek gods, their domains, their sacred animals, and symbols.
All three of these short stories unlike those of The Demigod Diaries, are written from the point-of-view of Percy Jackson, who perhaps at least partially because of his familiarity and Riordan's ease in his voice, is one of my favourite of the many voices that I have seen Riordan capture.
In these stories Riordan expands several key side characters, especially Silena Beauregard. By the end of Percy Jackson and The Olympians and the beginning of The Heroes of Olympus, Silena is regarded in a better light by campers at Camp Half-Blood than I have ever regarded her, and the campers regard for her has always thrown me. She almost needs the bolstering from Percy Jackson and the Bronze Dragon.
The others with whom Percy interacts in these tales - Clarisse La Rue, Charles Beckendorf, Nico DiAngelo, and Thalia Grace - I did not need to learn more about them in these short stories, as I needed to learn more about Silena. And even the titan Iapetus. Where it was explained on why his memory has been wiped. But I was glad to spend time with them and to share in their adventures.
Riordan is a master of adventure stories. In all of these, the demigods faced monsters, deadlines, and impossible odds (the usual trials of Riordan book). Riordan also tempers all of the dread with his usual humour, a somewhat dry humor, I suppose that relies alot on a tone and sarcasm that does not match the situation. These stories are scattered with such lines as "A girl starts trying to kill you, you know she's into you" (p. 35), "One dragon can ruin your whole day" (p. 33), "It's great when you're a celebrity to squids" (p. 22). Out of context none of those have made me laugh, but when paired with imminent danger in which the demigod find himself, these nuggets of humour are so unexpected that they do wonders to lighten the tone without killing it. That balance of humour and peril takes talent.Labels: Fantasy, Percy Jackson and The Olympians, Rick Riordan, Short Stories, The Demigod Files, Young Adult
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Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Last Olympian
Author: Rick Riordan
Ratings: 4.5/5
Synopsis: All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the titans. Kronos is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, his power only grows.
The prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfold . And as the battle for Western Civilisation rages on the street of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.
Review: I tried to read the series as an e-book and I wasn't successful cus I feel dizzy every time so I decided to spend mega bucks to purchase the whole set. I simply love the whole plot because it came at a time when the literary world was inundated with too many stories on vampires and werewolves. Honestly, vampires are so passe. Hello, Buffy? And so far, nothing beats the love story, complexity, and magical elements in Buffy.
Anyway, it was about the supernatural as well but it involved Greek mythology - not your usual supernatural plot. I give this book a 4.5 because of the refreshing plot but it contained elements found in other books. I found similarities between Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. But anyway, I still enjoyed it despite the similarities in two books.
The Last Olympian is the last book in the series (total of five books in all if you didn't know it already) and finally, after four books of hinting about the prophecy, you finally get to find out what it means. And the prophecy says... you should read the book. Hint: Someone will die. In fact many "someone's" will die.
It basically points out that everything starts with home, with your family. I was actually surprised when I read that The Last Olympian was an unmentioned god in the previous four books and actually not thought of it very much. Good point though when she (yes, The Last Olympian is a female god) explains that home is important and that even when everyone else leaves, she stays.
For the positive side of the book, it's quite entertaining and kudos to the humour portrayed in each book. Plus points for the updated pop culture references. However, the story was just not complex enough for it to earn the title of "one of my favourites". Granted, it's a good book, a great plot, and fun to read.
But still do I recommend you to go and read it and pay all your hard-earned cash (or at least your parents' hard-earned cash) on these books? YES. Very much so. Or you can put it in your Christmas Wish List (since it's still around). It's great for light reading, a book good enough to read repeatedly.
Labels: Fantasy, Greek Mythology, Percy Jackson and The Olympians, Rick Riordan, The Last Olympian, Young Adult
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