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Originally posted on The Selkie Reads Stories (http://selkiereadsstories.blogspot.com)
After waiting for so long for Requiem, the final installment of the well-loved Delirium trilogy, I wanted to read it as soon as my hands caressed the smooth cover and didn't mind (or scream at) the slightly scary cover girl at all. Time came that the release date was just around the corner and I finally allowed myself to start reading and transport myself back to The Wilds. Surprisingly though, that didn't happen and I was still lying on the sofa wondering if the book will ever start to get interesting.
Requiem was so painfully slow. The roller coaster journey that I expected was replaced with a railroad track: turtle-paced and straight. I understand that the plot had to build up before it reached it's climax, but the book was filled with a lot of unnecessary scenes and tedious dialogue. There were a lot of times where I found myself getting bored and wanting to skip entire paragraphs.
A lot of conflicts presented in the story were causeless and frustrating to read about. I didn't care too much for the characters, either. They annoyed me to death and it was like they were just using each other. The depth of the relationships in Delirium and Pandemonium were evident but I just couldn't feel them in Delirium. The intense love, regret, thirst for vengeance, and hope that he book was supposed to focus on was near invisible.
Lauren Oliver's writing was masterful as always. Lena's and Hana's point of view were equally well-written and gave voice to the characters. The world-building was magical, believable, raw, and real. I ended up envisioning myself going to places that Lena and Hana went to, and the way the rebellion progressed and how it was planned and executed was well thought of. Lauren's words and sentences were beautiful, fluid, and song-like. She could effortlessly and seamlessly weave and bend words to her liking, making me want to keep on reading despite the slow pace.
Requiem was not a bad conclusion to the trilogy but it just didn't reach my high expectations for it and I am disappointed because of that. The book eventually picked up and got my attention a few chapters before the book ended, though. The climax crept up on me and receded as quickly as it came. Most fans are complaining about the ending because the series was concluded with uncertainty and a lot of questions to be answered but I actually liked it; it was more of a sign of a new beginning than an ending, really. The message it echoed reached me and the last few paragraphs were so raw and truthful; I feel like they would always be a part of me.
I am still hungry for a proper epilogue, though.
If anyone would ask me what I thought of Marie Lu's sexy new book The Young Elites, i'd reply with five words: dark fantasy at it's finest. I absolutely could not put this book down! It was like X-Men meets Game of Thrones meets Throne of Glass meets Cruel Beauty meets.. arrghh nevermind. Why don't I just give you five reasons why The Young Elites deserves that five-word praise? Here we go..
1. The Malfettos. A decade ago, a deadly illness called the Blood Fever swept through the nation, killing thousands of people. The few who survived the fever, mostly children, were left with strange scars that marked them as outcasts and bad luck to society. However, some of the fever's survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.
In an X-Men kind of universe, the Malfettos would be the mutants. Shunned by society and deemed as “bad luck” as an excuse to hide the king's negligence in ruling his kingdom, innocent malfettos have been killed left and right. That doesn't make them weaklings though- most of the Young Elites are pretty kick-ass! What I loved about the malfettos is that their origin was never fully explained and there's still so much secrecy surrounding the Young Elites.
2. Adelina Amouteru. Adelina -freakin- Amouteru. Don't let her regal name fool you because this girl has gone through hell and back, losing her mother to the Blood Fever and having to spend her whole life answering to her abusive and sadistic father's beck and call. Because of her harsh experiences, there is a great darkness inside Adelina that threatens to consume her and will not hesitate to kill. Adelina isn't the typical heroine protagonist- she's clearly drawn to evil and darkness, and her heart calls out for vengeance no matter what the means, but there's this tiny spark in her that tries to control the darkness. She's pretty bad-ass if I do say so myself.
“I am Adelina Amouteru. I belong to no one. On this night, I swear to you that I will rise above everything you've ever taught me. I will become a force that this world has never known. I will come into such power that none will dare hurt me again.”
3. The Dagger Society. When the Inquisition held Adelina at the stake for the murder of her father, a group of Young Elites whisked in and saved her. Basically the X-Men of their world, The Dagger Society dedicate their lives to reinstating the rights of the malfettos and overthrowing the king and queen. Led by a sword-fighting fire wielder named Enzo Valenciano, the group sees murder as a means to an end and will kill anyone who gets in their way. I loved reading about them and their different abilities- there's Ezio with his ability to control fire, a male courtesan who can sense the abilities of other malfettos, a windwalker who can control air, a girl who can steal the will of any animal, a boy who can bend any object to his will, and one of the greatest fighters the world has ever seen.
Adelina trains to become on of the Daggers and this opens up whole different worlds for her, and in turn for us. Through the society, I was whisked to a world with flying manta rays in the sky, a beautiful pleasure court, underground tunnels, and devious plots.
4. The plot and world-building. Marie Lu packed everything into this book: darkness, family, magic, powers, action-packed swordfights, sexy romance, deception, betrayal; most of the plot is centered around political intrigue packed with a lot of players. I never knew what was going to happen next and I couldn't stop turning the pages. She weaved a whole new seamless world to perfectly back all of it up, too. I learned something new about their world as the story progresses, and it opens up a lot of roads leading to places outside Adelina's kingdom- places I can't wait to read more of.
5. The epilogue. THAT EPILOGUE. THAT SNEAKY SNEAKY CLIFF HANGER EPILOGUE. I can't say much without spoiling, but it's definitely a massive game-changer! A few hints? Princess. Different Kingdom. Prince. Underworld. Confused? I am too! And I need book two right this instant!
So yup, those are the five things that instantly made me Marie Lu's slave. Anything for book two. ANYTHING. Kidding aside, or not-so-kidding aside, The Young Elites isn't perfect, but it's a definite must-read for people looking for a dark fantasy with political intrigue and a fast paced adrenaline-filled plot.
Before I read this book, I basically had close to zero contact with novels for almost four months. The only books that I managed to pick up were required readings and college textbooks. I dug myself a reading slump hole so deep and I didn't even know if I could get out of it. So one rare afternoon, finding myself with no importat schoolwork whatsoever, I decided to submerge myself in the book blogging world and see what you guys were up to (sneaky, right?) and I found this book.
I don't remember who, but one of my blogger friends posted this book on her Instagram and it piqued my interest. Long story short, I got myself a copy, settled into my reading nook, and completely devoured the whole thing. And guess what happened after I finished the last page? I wanted to read more books! I've been searching and searching for the book that would finally get me out of my slump and I found it in Gabe and Lea's story. Here's why:
1.) The story is told in fourteen different points of view. Yup you read that right. FOURTEEN. And each one of the characters had their own distinct voice that managed to pull me deeper and deeper into the story. I guess I really enjoyed this because of the reading slump that I was in; the different points of view gave me entirely different perspectives that tickled my brain cells and reactivated my yearning to devour more words, more stories. And did I mention that these points of view included a squirrel's and a park bench's?
2.) Gabe and Lea are incredibly awkward-cute.
“I've got a theory.”
“That it's a demon?”
“A dancing demon?”
“No, something isn't right there.”
I love awkward-cute people, I really do. I'm awkward-cute, my crushes are awkward-cute, and some of the best people I know are awkward-cute. But the thing about Gabe and Lea is that their awkward-cutenesses merge whenever their together and created this huge intergalactic force filled with cuteness and blushing and oh my gosh just talk to each other alreadyyyy-s
3. They were more than just awkward-cute. Okay, so most books with awkward-cute characters fit exactly in that mold, learning it, loving it, living it- but that is not the case for our two protagonists. You might think that Lea is one of those girls who stay indoors and read in their room all day, and Lea does do that parties and goes on the sneakiest stalking seshes with her roommates too. Lea is actually pretty feisty and can definitely put a man in his place. Gabe, on the other hand, might sound like a total dork, and he is, but he's an athlete too! He's shy, but not completely socially awkward. He just had his reasons, that's all. So yes! Character building and development were so on par and timely. It almost kind of felt like reading a collective journal.
4. It didn't kill any brain cells. When you're reading, your brain cells might die because of two reasons: one, the story was so incredibly complex and mindblowingly heavy to intake or two, the story was so incredibly bland and stupid and you just want to hit every character with a stick. A Little Something Different sounds like a cutesy lovestory that would fit into the latter, but thankfully no brain cells were harmed while reading. It is a love story, and it is cute, but it isn't stupid or bland at all. It's one of those books that manage to melt your ice cold heart at each turn of the page and make you feel weird bubbly emotions at the pit of your stomach, but it has intellect too. It's smart and witty, and while it melts your heart it doesn't melt your brain.
5. It pretty much told the story of my life. A Little Something Different is set during Lea's first year at uni and since i'm a freshman in college too, I could relate to so much of what she was going through. The hesitance, the insecurity, the fear of the unknown, the crush that I have on the cute guy who sits next to me in almost all of our classes- umm scratch that last part out haha! I don't think that my college profs pair me up with the guys in class, but there's still a chance right?
But yes, dear bookish friends, it kind of was like reading the story of my life. I used to like a guy, and this guy used to like me, and everyone knew except for us. My friends and his friends were so tired of us beating around the bush about things but like Lea, I was just so scared of the bad things that might happen. That was an old chapter in my life, but reading A Little Something Different made me want to blow off the dust and open it up again. I guess my instant connection with Lea gave me a stronger connection with the story and that's why I loved it even more. When a book hits home with you, it's a keeper for life.
The Unhappening of Genesis Lee is one of the best sci-fi books i've read this year. The world building was so detailed and intricate without being too over the top. I love how it wasn't exactly explained straight out because the plot just seamlessly unfolds all the answers to the questions you might have at just the right moment. Genesis Lee's world would have been a huge confusing mess if it was written in a wrong way, but Shallee McArthur didn't disappoint.
After the war, scientists invented a drug that would supposedly help PTSD victims store their traumatic memories in a place in their mind where in won't bother them anymore. Things didn't go as planned and people started going crazy because of the experiment and it started to affect their reproductive systems, starting the rise of the Mementi- humans who remember everything perfectly and can share memories with other Mementi through the slightest touch. The Mementi store their memories in Link beads that they wear as accessories on their arms, necks, and for the very daring- hair. The loss of a single link bead can lead to the loss of two years worth of memories.
When a person called the Link Thief begins stealing people's beads, fingers started to point at The Populace- the normal humans whose brains haven't been genetically altered by the drug, causing an even greater strain between the two groups. Interestingly enough, I never found myself favoring one group over the other. The author writes the story in a completely objective manner and shows us both sides of the conflict.
Remember when I said that The Mementi can share memories through touch? Well, reading this book was like having Genesis remove her gloves and grasp my hand, skin to skin. I felt every fiber of emotion she was going through- the fear she felt in that alleyway with Cora, the helplessness when Cora lost her memories, the pain, the anguish, the confusion, the butterflies in her stomach when she started to fall for Kalan, and the ache in her heart whenever she forgot about his existence. I feel her soul when she gets panic attacks, I feel her soul when her parents force her to be something she's not, I feel her soul when she falls in love over and over again- for the same guy.
Genesis isn't the main victim in the book's mystery, but she's stuck right in the middle of it and this is clearly HER story. However, the supporting characters didn't lack strength in their core at all. They were equally as strong and as fluid, especially Kalan. The charming preacher boy's son who is idealistic and brave. Imagine falling inlove with someone, and finding out that they feel the same way, only to have them forget you the very next day. Their romance tore me apart and completely crushed me on the inside.
The Unhappening of Genesis Lee isn't just emotional- it's fast-paced and thrilling, throwing twists at you that you never would have expected. Couple that with seamless world building and strong characters to back a complex unique plot and you're sure in for an adventure of your own.
Honest, compelling, and completely heartwarming. Those three words don't even begin to describe Say What You Will in it's entirety. It isn't at all the easy light read that I was expecting, no. From the moment I flipped to page two, I was thrown into the messy life of Amy, a teenage girl with cerebral palsy, and Matthew, a boy who's hiding the fact that he has severe OCD.
Amy's Cerebral Palsy robs her of her ability to talk without a voice box, and perform simple motor movements in a normal way but her mind is anything but slow. She's incredibly smart and great at school, and she isn't unaware of what others think about her condition. Regardless, Amy doesn't shy away from anybody and tries to befriend them instead. Matthew, on the other hand, looks perfectly normal on the outside but hides his OCD from everyone and gets anxiety whenever he deviates from his ‘routines'. The two of them are already full of life on their own, but the two of them fit together like two puzzle pieces. Amy was emotionally stronger than Matthew and Matthew had the physical capabilities that Amy lacked. They helped each other, complemented each other and made each other shine.
The romance was sweet, pure, and real; the epitome of first love. Cammie McGovern slowly guides us through Amy and Matthew's attraction, confusion, indecision, tension, happiness, and downfalls. Painfully slow and shy, it's the kind of love that doesn't hit you full force, the kind of love that gives off inch-lings of a spark- a spark bright and hopeful enough to make you wish that the ship would sail. However, their relationship was always messy and fragile. I always felt like I was standing on the edge of a roof and could fall off at any moment. It only made it more magical and real, something worth holding on to.
In truth, I didn't always like Amy and Matthew but I did admire the author's skillful characterization of them both. Their actions annoyed me and clawed at my head, but it goes without saying that the things they were doing and the decisions that they made were perfectly humane. McGovern doesn't sugarcoat the two. They were both so painfully flawed and real. And they were written in the way that didn't make me pity them despite all of the problems and issues they were having, I found myself sympathizing with them instead.
The book is being pitched as being in the same vein as The Fault In Our Stars and Eleanor & Park, but I think that the story strays from that pigeonhole and eventually develops into something more than that. Say What You Will doesn't just tell the story of a girl with CP and a boy with OCD, it also dives into the lives of everyone around them like their parents and friends like Chloe and Sanjay; it's beautiful prose sings about family problems, anxiety, loneliness, depression, and the things that people do when they're desperate for something more.
In the end, this book and their story taught me a lot about strength. Amy and Matthew taught me to conquer life's limits, even if the one blocking your way is yourself. The path the story took shocked and surprised me; it was something I never even expected. What started out as an innocent love story developed into something so much more, dealing with a surprising issue that was heavier than I ever expected. Say What You Will was sweet, honest, heartbreaking, and utterly brilliant. Pick up a copy of Say What You Will but handle your heart with care, because this book might just break it when you least expect it and render you speechless.
I always assumed that The Walled City was a dystopian novel, so as I read each page I was surprised to discover that the book isn't set in a distant future or in a different world- it is set in our world, in our timeline. However, it felt like an entirely different world. It was incredibly dark and dangerous, and I could feel the tension in every scene. In a district filled with cheaters, gangs, prostitutes, and drug dealers, you wager your life every day.
The Walled City is a riveting novel written in three different perspectives- Dai's, a drug trafficker with a dark past and a dangerous secret; Jin's, a girl who spent years pretending to be a boy to survive the City and to look for her missing sister; and Mei Yee's, a prostitute with a silent desire to escape and find a better life outside and see the sea. Three different people from different walks of life in the City, three different lives that ended up finding each other and working together to destroy the King Pin's gang from the inside and escape the City forever.
I loved Dai, Jin, and Mei Yee equally. At first glance, they seemed like people who gave up and succumbed to the City's powers, but they actually had this fire within them- this quiet determination that pushed them every step of the way. Learning about their pasts, my heart broke and cheered for them even more. My heart raced along with theirs at every danger that they faced and believe me when I say that it was like they were cats that have nine lives considering all of the near-death circumstances that they got into. Reading this book was like asking for a heart attack!
The book had echoes of a reality that we refuse to accept. There are places out there just like the Walled City, like the Kowloon Walled City that the book is based on. Ryan Graudin managed to create a carbon-copy vision of those places and projected it into the book. It was absolutely masterful and terrifying. His writing kind of reminded me of Haruki Murakami's- tasteful, smart, fluid, and realistic with a drop of magic. It keeps you guessing and leads you on a spiral of fictional reality that will shake your core. Words cannot express the experience The Walled City gave me, you'll have to read the book yourself. But be careful! In the Walled City, there is no escape.
Originally posted on The Selkie Reads Stories (http://selkiereadsstories.blogspot.com)
Katie McGarry captivated readers with her riveting and emotional Young Adult debut, Pushing the Limits. In this gripping novella, she tells the story of Lila and Lincoln, who discover that sometimes it's worth crossing the line for love.
Most of the fans of Pushing The Limits as Echo's best friend who stuck with her even if it meant cutting her ties with other friends. When Echo lost her older brother Aires two and a half years ago, Lila mourned just as much. On that same night, Lila met Lincoln. Lincoln's brother Josh suffered the same fate as Aires, and though he seemed to control his feelings during the funeral, he actually poured his heart out to a girl he just met- Lila.
The two instantly clicked and agreed to become pen pals; talking about nothing and everything through letters sent twice a week for two and a half years. They told each other everything and trusted their secrets to one another. It was all building up to each one accepting the probability of having feelings for the other, something more than friendship. Everything was perfect until Lincoln messes everything up by withholding a tiny detail from Lila; the one thing she depended on the most.
Terrified of the thought of losing Lila and wanting so much to fix things and explain, Lincoln speeds his way to her hometown- to the address he knows by heart. After a series of events, Lincoln ends up staying the night at Lila's house, causing them to completely reassess their plans for the future and their unexpected feelings for each other.
The love between Lila and Lincoln was magical, sweet, and marginally perfect in my point of view. I despise instalove, but I'm a fan of their relationship because even though they only spent 24 hours with each other, the book clearly describes the letters sent between the two and how their relationship grew into something more than that of pen pals. Lincoln made Lila feel safe, secure, confident, and unconditionally loved, and Lila was like a miracle for Lincoln; she helped him get through his grief and problems and understood him more than anyone could. The thing that sold me was that even though they were sure that they were in love with each other, they didn't quite say ‘I love you' yet and went with the simple ‘like', because they both knew that they had all the time in the world to grow and love.
Katie McGarry did it again and did the impossible by packing up so much emotion into a mere 67 pages. She created two characters who I rooted for with all my heart with stories that touched my core. I usually stay away from short stories because they pull you in from the start and end just as easily. That became the case with Crossing The Line. I got so frustrated and angry when it ended because like every McGarry book that I have read, I wanted more. I wished that this wasn't a short story because I truly believe that it had the potential to be a full fledged novel. It wasn't just all about love, either. Crossing the Limits is yet another beautiful story from Katie McGarry about hope, acceptance, moving on, and breaking out of our confines. Lila and Josh's short yet sweet tale teaches us that it's okay to take chances and cross the line.
Originally posted on The Selkie Reads Stories (http://selkiereadsstories.blogspot.com)
Nobody's Secret was a nice light read. The writing was fluid and easy to understand, and I especially liked how the dialogue flows between the characters. The historical setting was quite evident in the way the book was written and in how people acted. I enjoyed hearing Emily's opinions about the people and things around her. She was considered “odd” by most people and was depicted in Nobody's Secret as quite a tulip in a bed of roses. I really admired the way she overcome the obstacles blocking her from reaching clues and the bravery she displayed whenever she was threatened to stop sticking her nose into someone else's business.
The plot wasn't exactly what I expected it to be. I thought that it would be based on Emily Dickinson's actual life or one of her poems, but I was wrong. Nobody's Secret is actually a murder mystery based on snippets and lines from the different poems of Emily Dickinson. A specific line from one of her poems is actually written upon starting each chapter, and it was like a clue as to how the story will develop from there. It had the usual factors of a who dun it; it was fast paced and had consistent developments, tackling different relationships but focusing more on the mystery itself.
As a YA murder mystery novel, it was okay and nicely written. The various developments in solving the mystery were masterfully placed in all the perfect circumstances, and Emily and her sister sunk their teeth unto different suspicions while using their brain and never jumping to conclusions. The thing that bothered me was that I never got stumped. I was always a step or two before Emily and I wasn't surprised with the identity of the killer. I don't know if it's just me but I thought that it was extremely predictable, and that, I think, is a bad thing to be when you're a murder mystery book.
I was also a bit disappointed because the blurb described as having “blossoming romance” but I didn't really feel it much. There were hints leading to possible attractions and a bit of flirting, but I wouldn't exactly call it romance. I really shouldn't complain because I guess flirting would be considered steamy in Emily's time where skirts that end above the ankle are considered short, but still. And, in my opinion, Emily didn't want to solve the mystery and give justice to Mr. Nobody because she loved the guy like others are saying, it was more than that. Emily was always under-appreciated and considered odd; boys always preferred flirting with her prettier younger sister and placed Emily in the friendzone. Then here comes Mr. Nobody, someone who understood her and embraced her oddities. Mr. Nobody was the first person to actually accept her for who she is and she owed him so much for that.
All in all, Nobody's Secret was a very enjoyable read. It was well-written, had vivid imagery, and realistic characters. Even though it wasn't based on an actual event in her life, some parts of Emily's life were shown like the actual characteristics of her family and friends, and I appreciate the amount of research made to make the book more realistic. The plot and story was also interesting, albeit a bit too predictable for me. If you're a fan of believable historical fiction and a nice mystery, Nobody's Secret is the book for you.
Originally posted on The Selkie Reads Stories (http://selkiereadsstories.blogspot.com)
I highly enjoy most of the young adult books that are based on Greek mythology, and My Ex From Hell was one that kept me on my toes. Tellulah writes in an easy and fluid way so the reading experience I had was like reading Sophie Bloom's diary. My Ex From Hell is a nice light read and it is a welcome break from all the heavy and emotionally loaded books in the YA market today.
Sophie Bloom is one sassy sister. She's just like any sixteen year-old girl; she goes to boarding school, has her fair share of family problems, belongs in a tight group of friends, and has a knack for getting into trouble. The thing that I liked the most about Sophie was her voice- she was snarky, sarcastic, and sometimes overly dramatic. This girl is opinionated and she's not afraid to speak her mind. I also enjoyed the sense of humor portrayed in the book because it was natural and wasn't too forced- it all came natural to Sophie and her friends without missing a beat.
I really got a kick out of the world Tellulah created for My Ex From Hell, both the Greek mythology and boarding school aspects of it. Sophie's boarding school life and her relationship with her friends seemed so natural and I enjoyed Tellulah's depictions of various characters and places based on the Greek myths. One thing that set My Ex From Hell apart from other Persephone books that I have heard of is that Tellulah doesn't pair off Persephone/Sophie with Hades but with Hades' son Kai. Tellulah did a really good job of bringing this story to the modern world for younger generations to enjoy.
My Ex From Hell sucked me in during the first few chapters, but i'm sad to say that it lost me somewhere along the middle. Some things felt a bit too forced and rushed, and it just wasn't that much of a believable story anymore. If the characters weren't sixteen, the book felt very much like a middle grade novel. However, the very lovable Sophie Bloom and her unabashedly honest mouth was a redeeming factor for me, and the unexpected ending made me eager to read the next books in the series.
Originally posted on The Selkie Reads Stories (http://selkiereadsstories.blogspot.com)
My Favorite Mistake gave me one of the best reading experiences in the history of ever. I was giggling and blushing and screaming in my head. This book had me grinning from ear to ear. My friend Jassie was the one who told me that I should read it, and I love love love her forever because of that.
The thing about My Favorite Mistake is that I have absolutely no idea what exactly set it apart from the rest of the New Adult books I had. It had the overly used recipe of ‘girl with a troubled past who didn't want any more trouble + seemingly bad boy with problems of his own but gasp actually develops a soft side because of aforementioned girl = boy chases girl but girl denies her feelings because being with boy is bad for her'. Yeap, it was one of those books. However, I devoured the book and loved it to bits in spite of all that.
Maybe I enjoyed this book because of Taylor. Unlike most of girl protags in books like this, Taylor wasn't some goody goody damsel who constantly needed saving. Something happened to her in the past, and she was determined to keep it a secret. Her past didn't affect her confidence, deadpan humor and her sharp tongue though, and she didn't have to rely on Hunter for everything. The only time she cracked was when her sister told her news she wasn't expecting, but easily overcame that not just because of Hunter, but because of her courage in herself. I had to admit that she had her ice queen moments in the first parts of the book and it annoyed me a bit, but the fire and feist in this girl was evident and infectious.
But maybe I enjoyed this book because of Hunter. You know how in some books with love triangles, there's a guy A and a guy B? Guy A is a ~playah~ bad boy with tattoos and sexual innuendos popping out of his mouth 24/7, and Guy B is the sweet blonde hair and blue eyed boy-next-door who can cook and plays the guitar and does everything a gentleman would do. See, Hunter Zaccadelli is Guy C- all of the above. He had the perfect balance of rush and steady. I also loved that he wasn't needy and overly possessive about Taylor and gave her space when she needed it because he actually understood her. I felt a connection with Hunter because we have the same obsession- we both obsess over luck. Hunter has tons of lucky charms tattooed over his body and caresses them when he needs courage. I really really adored this boy because he was virtually perfect yet undeniably flawed. And yeah, Hunter Zaccadelli can cook, ladies.
Or maybe I enjoyed this book because it was perfectly composed. Yes, it's plot is somewhat overused, but if written correctly and perfectly, it can turn out to be an incredibly good novel. Both of the main characters are perfectly imperfect, but they just don't rely solely on each other. The book also stresses the interactions and relationships of Taylor and Hunter with the other characters and you can sense their growth throughout the book. It also has it's dramatic climaxes, but the author masterfully controlled them and didn't make them over the top and unrealistic. The writing was perfectly paced, easy, and conveyed Taylor's narrative voice in the most honest way possible. My Favorite Mistake had all the components that every great book should have, and Chelsea M. Cameron weaved them all together to create a tale that every person who believes in romance should read.
Originally posted on The Selkie Reads Stories (http://selkiereadsstories.blogspot.com)
I don't know how to describe the intense love-hate relationship I had with Nantucket Blue. The plot of the book was so simple, perfect for a quick summer read. The writing style was uncomplicated and the characters were ordinary However, there was something about this book that slowly captured my full attention.
Cricket Thompson is probably the most realistic young adult protagonist that I have ever come across. She had a lot of flaws; she was heavily reliant on other people and thought too much about the opinions of others, and she let other people walk all over her without defending herself. Cricket was overly attached to her friend Jules to the point that she refused to realize the way Jules was mistreating her and made excuses for Jules' actions to reassure herself. She was very stubborn and refused to face the hard truths in life.
The relationships portrayed in Nantucket Blue were also very believable. The bases of old relationships were clearly portrayed and the process of how new relationships were formed was very intricate and gave the readers a play-by-play of it all without being too over detailed. The ‘friendship' between Cricket and Jules was complicated and messy and I think that they just used each other without knowing it. The romance in the book was predictable but still extremely cute and sweet, as how any summer romance should be.
What I liked is that even though Cricket denied her flaws so much, they were so evident in the book because of little tidbits that were seamlessly weaved into the story and the dialogue. It was so easy to get annoyed at Cricket because of the decisions she made but you can really see her growth as the story progresses. The Cricket Thompson who went to Nantucket to chase her summer dreams became a different person at the end of the summer, and that, I think, is what's important.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the supporting characters and the subplots in the book. Nantucket Blue isn't just a story about Cricket's summer, it is about the summer of an incredibly diverse set of people who eventually find themselves connected to one another. Strangers, old friends, and family members played a huge role in Nantucket Blue and helped Cricket discover her capabilities and self-confidence.
The beauty of Nantucket Blue, I think, is in the sheer simplicity of it. The book was written in a beautiful yet unpretentious and simple prose that somehow brought life to every word. A reader could easily visualize the things Cricket was seeing, showing us the true glory of Nantucket through words. The dialogue was, again, so simple, but was incredibly raw and transparent. Every kind of emotion and vulnerability was thrown at me through thoughts and expressions and body languages, and the entire experience was surreal
Leila Howland wrote a beautiful coming of age book that resonated with the allure of a masterful contemporary: bold, honest, real, and speaks to the heart. It did not end on a high part; the book sort of fell flat somewhere towards the ending and a lot of problems were unresolved, but it did not matter. It didn't matter because that's the way life really goes; love, death, drama, fear, and hope. There are some things that we cannot take back, but there is always hope. Cricket started to believe in herself and she started to hope, and she made me believe and hope along with her.
I grabbed the chance to read Dare You To simply because of my love for Pushing The Limits. I adored PTL's main characters and the smidget of hope that I had of Noah and Echo making a cameo in Dare You To fueled my desire to read it. I didn't even know anything about Dare You To except for the fact that it was Beth Risk's story. When I finally bothered to read the blurb I was a bit shocked- I really expected Beth to be paired up with Isaiah. I was also a bit worried because it instantly felt like it was going to be one of those cliched books; popular and perfect jock asks the punk rock emo skater chick because of a dare? Doesn't that sound like a scene from Not Another Teen Movie? Thankfully, Katie McGarry's books never fall into that category; they transcend and overcome it because they give you so much more.
I have a complicated history with Beth Risk. I hated her in PTL and thought that she was an annoying bitch and I didn't know anything about her except for the fact that she's one of Noah's best friends. Dare You To introduced me to the real Beth; all her faults, scars and horrifying experiences, and all the things that makes her Beth Risk. Beth always lived in a dark world trying to protect her alcoholic mother with a history of abusive relationships but her uncle saved her from that mess and takes custody of her, taking her back to the small town that Beth grew up in before her life got ugly. Beth doesn't want that though. All she wants is to go back to Isaiah and Noah and her mother, so she deliberately disobeys her uncle and badmouths his aunt. She runs away from a potentially bright future and runs back to her dark life, but she eventually matures enough to learn her mistakes and correct them. Beth starts to get over her trust issues and breaks down her walls by reconnecting with her childhood friend Lacey and developing feelings for a boy she never thought she would have such a connection with- Ryan Stone.
Beth described Ryan as too perfect to be true, and I agree with her, but not in the way you think. Ryan Stone was the golden haired and blue-eyed all-stare baseball jock with an assured ticket to go pro after high school with a perfect future all written out for him and basically set in stone. As expected, his life isn't so perfect after all. Beyond that facade, his parents are having problems and his brother is gay and basically disowned by his father, and Ryan constantly has to choose which side he's on. His English teacher helps him realize that he has an actual talent for writing and can go to a really good college if he wanted to, but his father wants to hear nothing of it and is insistent on him going pro even if Ryan isn't sure anymore. Getting dared to ask out the new girl seemed like another problem to add to his life, but Beth Risk turned out to be anything but that. Because of her, the boy who always played it safe is finally willing to take a risk.
Beth and Ryan both came packaged with heavy baggage that they had to get through, turning Dare You To into one very angst-filled book. Beth and Ryan were the best things to happen to each other and they helped the other get through whatever problem they had on their plate. They accepted each others' faults and loved unconditionally; they fixed each other. I have to admit that the scenes where Beth continuously but unconsciously broke Isaiah's heart wounded me, but I admired Beth for setting things straight with him early on and not leading him on.
I finally learned to love Beth Risk; faults, flaws, and all. I admired her strength, spirit, rebellious demeanor, and undying devotion for her mother. Dare You To gives us a glimpse as to why Beth was taken into foster care and it brings everything full circle, making you understand her right to the core. She is undeniably selfless and brave, but she needs someone to care for her too. Ryan was surprisingly very easy to love because he was such a sweetheart. I usually go for the bad boys and he is anything but that, so this makes him very special in my book. He isn't as complicated as Beth but keeps up with her more than anyone. These two may come from different worlds, but were brought together by hope, love, and trust.
Again, Katie McGarry didn't fail in bringing life to each and every one of her characters. Every single conversation and movement felt so real and packaged up with raw emotion. This was a love story, but it doesn't focus on that alone. Reading about how Beth and Lace's friendship grew was so beautiful every step of the way. It was also such a treat to read about Beth patching up her rocky relationship with her Uncle Scott. Reading Dare You To was like watching someone's life unfold right before my eyes. It was that well-written. It was so much more fluid than Pushing The Limits and I instantly connected with the characters. I think I loved Dare You To more because it gave me an emotional experience that I never knew I could go through.
I really enjoyed Dare You To, but it still had it's flaws. It was filled with cliches and stereotypes, and although I don't necessarily care about those if the book is well written, it was just too much and it bothered me a bit. The pace was more fluid than that of Pushing The Limits, but it was still choppy at some parts and there was a rough transitioning between chapters.
Dare You To is compelling and raw and real. Every word oozes with intense honesty and emotion. McGarry is unmatched when it comes to this book and I will never hesitate to read any of her books ever again. I believe that no one can ever be fully prepared for the intensity, passion, and raw sincerity that is the core of Dare You To, because this book is one hell of an emotional ride. You just have to experience it yourself though- I dare you to.
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This isn't your ordinary zombie book. Reboot introduces us to a world where some people, people whose bodies can adapt to the mutation given by an epidemic disease, rise from the dead and become stronger, faster, and less prone to human emotion. A government agency called HARC uses these living dead called the reboots to fight as soldiers and perform brutal tasks with no questions asked.
Wren rebooted after 178 minutes, making her the deadliest and most highly feared Reboot. The humans that patrol the HARC base are terrified of her and the lower reboots know to stay away. The only people who treated her like a person were Leb, one of the few humans at HARC who treated reboots with respect, and Ever, her ‘under sixty' roommate and the closest Wren had to a friend. Wren was okay with the reputation of being a monster who enjoyed killing and found some truth in it until Callum came along. Callum is a 22 and one of the weakest reboots in the base. Wren usually chooses to train the reboot with the highest number, but something about Callum and his unabashed humane self intrigues her and chooses him to be her trainee, surprising the other reboots, the humans, and Wren herself.
Being Callum's trainer changes Wren and she starts to feel the human emotions she thought she would never feel again. She starts to break the rules she has followed for the past five years, and allows herself to show compassion towards others. These emotions make Wren start to wonder when she gets called to do private missions and Ever and the other under sixties start to act strange and less sane. When Callum refuses to kill a human during one of their field missions, the president of HARC orders her to get rid of him but she silently refuses to kill Callum and enlists Leb to help her and Callum escape to a place where reboots get to live free from HARC's influence.
Amy Tintera's writing as Wren echoed the voice of a true reboot: strong, assured, confident, and calculating. But it also had just the right amount of bits of emotion that sprawled across the pages, showing us the humane side of Wren that was bursting at the seams.Wren was convinced that she was the heartless and bloodthirst creature that everyone thought her to be and it was true during the first parts of the book but as the story gradually progresses, you'll see Wren finally coming into terms with why she enjoyed killing and why she kept her emotions bottled up. Callum was incredibly cute and very very human. It was hard to believe that he was a reboot. With that playful smile of his and that curious glint in his eyes, he was just what Wren needed in her life. Callum was an overactive ball of sunshine; always looking at the bright side of things and never backing down whenever Wren dismissed his playful advances.
Reboot was an incredible fast-paced and adrenaline filled book with kickass and endearing characters and unbelievable twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The action scenes were vividly set out for the reader and the romance was cute and sweet. Reboot lived up to the expectations of it's cleverly unique plot that plays with what being human truly means. It perfectly laid out the framework for a series that i'm sure will be more than amazing, showing us glimpses of Wren's tragic past that i'm sure will slowly be uncovered in the succeeding books, and leaving us with questions that are dying to be answered. My only complaint about the book is that it unnecessarily rushed through some major events during the last part of the book. Filled with just the right amount of humor and innocent romance that balances out the gore and harsh realities, Reboot is one of the best young adult debut novels of the year.
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read full review here
Okay okay, where to start? First off, here's what I liked about the book:
1. The book was like a melting pot of cultures. The author mixed greek and indian culture really well. It was a very ambitious idea, but she pulled it off nicely.
2. The book is very easy to read. The story was told in a male POV, written by a female author. It was believable 99.9% of the time.
3. It's really hard to write about blind characters, because convincing the reader that the character is really visually impaired is quite a difficult task to do without visually impairing the reader in the process. I didn't feel visually impaired at all, and I saw the world through Alex's eyes without any problems, so two thumbs up to Emlyn!
4. Lovely characters. You'll easily relate to them, and liking them is not hard at all. Alex was a black horse hero, and I liked that about him. He's the kind of guy any mom would be thrilled to have her daughter take home. Don't get me wrong though, he's hardly perfect and he has a lot of problems.
5. And that is another thing that I like about this book. The characters are very human, none of them are described to be ‘perfect' or anything like that. Each of them all had their own flaws and it was nice seeing them mature as the story went on.
6. No super steamy scenes, just nice, clean, romance. Need I say more?
The only thing that I did not like was the pacing. It unnecessarily dragged on in some parts, and was too fast paced in all the wrong parts. It's all good though, because it didn't affect my reading experience much. But to be honest, sometimes I wanted to hit Alex on the hand with that walking stick of his for being so dense.
THE NUB AND GIST:
Great book with a unique plot. I just wish it didn't end like that, with the cliffhanger and all. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book!
