Selma

Well, I liked this more than the first book. Mostly because I love seeing the character developement of Tory & Darcy. But I like that we have some romance here as well - I just fckin love Darcy & Orion ohmydayys. The scene in the swimming pool had me screaaming.
And why was this book just so much more funny that it needed be? I laughed my ass off so many times hahah.
I did feel a little bad about what they did towards Milton Hubert, and Seth and Max. The last two deserved it though..
I can't waiit until Darcy and Tory's Order forms emerge!! If Tory's not a dragon I'll be so mad..

3.5 stars

I am giving this book 5 stars, despite being sooo near DNF-ing it. Again. (I know that's a sin to say).

I started reading Lord of the Flies some two years ago, and I quite quickly DNF-ed it... But I knew I had to come back to it at a later date. The themes on human psychology just seemed too exciting. So I was a bit more prepared this time. I knew it was suuuuperslow in the beginning. But I didn't think it would be as slow as it actually was.

I have some words on the writing:
I just don't think me and William Golding vibe very well together. I could read a paragraph several times, and still don't understand anything. And I feel like this type of writing weirdly reminded me a bit of Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor...? Which I had to force myself to read through 6 months.. I don't know why it reminded me of Strange the Dreamer, but maybe some of the descriptions of the island made me remember the “dreamy”, almost “uneasy” feeling I got from Laini Taylor as well. Now that I'm thinking of it, maybe this was exactly what Golding wanted, though. To give the reader this sense of stress that something awful was going to happen. So maybe I actually like his writing after all?

The last couple chapters were the best, in my opinion. But there were a lot of important scenes earlier in the book as well, contributing to the angst in the end. I had to put down the book a little bit during the end chapters, because I was afraid that I might get a heart attack or something from how hard it was beating.

This is just a ruthless story. That's how I have to describe it. And it scares me that I could've been any one of these boys, if I were stranded on an island like them.

Actually, I think I like Goldings writing after all.

It took me half a year to finish this book. Don't misunderstand me - it's a beautifully written, and extremely dreamy book. But it was just a bit slow. And I was having a hard time continuing.
There was a loot of info the first two thirds of the book, and then, after 80% of the book, things started happening. Very quickly.
I absolutely love the way Taylor writes. So poetic and dreamy - perfect for a book based on hopes, dreams, despair and death. A book which shows the harsh cruelties of the world, and how it can break even the best people.

It poses some interesting questions- about what it is to be truly good. Eril-Fane is depicted as a “great man, but not a good man”. It discusses love, and asks what one wouldn't do for it. And about regret: would Lazlo go back and save his love, while letting the city fall?

«My greatest wish for humanity is not for peace or comfort or joy. It is that we all still die a little inside every time we witness the death of another. For only the pain of empathy will keep us human. There's no version of God that can help us if we ever lose that»
- From the gleaning journal of H.S.Faraday

This book was truly a wonderful discovery for me. I'd heard great things about this book by several booktubers, but I didn't think I would come to like a sci-fi action book like this as much as I did. I picked it up in Ireland, in need of something to read while still in a reading block. I had no idea what this book would give me in the aftermath; I have emerged with more questions and dilemmas than I arrived with. And in the strangest way I believe my thoughts and opinions have evolved.
I've never really thought much about death and life. I was content on living my life in the present. But this book challenged me. Severely. I couldn't seem to finish it. Took me a couple of weeks. It's just a really refreshing book compared to other YA/NA fantasy books I've read. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. Really, enjoy wouldn't be the right word. One doesn't really enjoy being challenged in their beliefs. That's what makes the book so special. I can't wait to read the full trilogy - although I suspect it might take me a while to finish. I have to read something more brain-dead in the mean time