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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
ALLS reminds me of JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE, in that it surprises me halfway throughout the story from just an okay book to one that was truly great. Every event from then left me breathless as the action was amped up, the emotions were heightened and I grew to fear for the character's wellbeing.
Rose as a narrator is not particularly... She's one of the girls I wouldn't notice in real life: nondescript, shy, quiet, always alone in her own world. Her growth of self-acceptance was a very sad journey to go through, and I was proud of her by the end.
Despite her extenuating circumstances, she takes it all in stride, and becomes hearty and resilient with the help of an unlikely friend. If it had been me in her situation, let's not even talk about getting out of the stassis chamber. I'd just be sitting there half submerged, bawling my eyes out. This friend's perhaps the main reason why she grew over the course of the book, and without him I think we'd still be stuck with the Rose at the start of the book. I loved this friendship, because Rose opened up to him and showed us a glimpse of who she could potentially be, which she herself has not shown to us readers in her internal musings. This was frustrating at the start, because she was just so agreeable with whatever happened to her, even when it came to her disadvantage. Only in light of the revelations of the events leading to the start of the book did it all make sense, why she couldn't even trust herself even when she was alone with her own thoughts.
The revelations... it's the first time I've felt all around disgust and revulsion for a YA character's parents. It makes me rage like no other, that a parent can do this to their own child, just willingly not bother with them, literally putting them aside like a discarded toy. That people are capable of such simple cruelty is heartbreaking.
Whether the bravery portrayed during the last few chapters during the climax is a lasting effect, I don't think so. I do believe she has grown out more, trusting in herself more, and actually believing that she has a right to basic decency--a recurring theme here--but it feels like the sort of growth that would be shown more growing internally and then externally. A growth that wouldn't culminate in one showy display, which while satisfying, doesn't feel lasting. I'd love to see how she fares if there's a sequel.(less)
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Liyana
is now following Ceilidh's reviews
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Kelpies. It's a freaking book about kelpies.
Somehow I imagined them to be more bloodthirsty, magical and awe-inspiring rather than bloodthirsty water horses. It's been explained that Stiefvater chose to focus on this version of the kelpie, and it's p...moreKelpies. It's a freaking book about kelpies.
Somehow I imagined them to be more bloodthirsty, magical and awe-inspiring rather than bloodthirsty water horses. It's been explained that Stiefvater chose to focus on this version of the kelpie, and it's perfect as the antagonist and main draw of the novel. I just expected more.
Puck's story is meant to be the main storyline, with Sean's as a slightly smaller storyline. While Puck's story has all the flash (First girl in the Scorpio Races! Has to save the family from ruins!), I found myself feeling for Sean's quieter struggle.
Told from Sean and Puck's views, I found myself worrying more about Sean than Puck. Puck had a family, people to support her when things went south, but Sean had been alone his whole life. Even without my maternal instinct kicking in, being in debt to and an employee to a cruel and calculating employer is quite horrible. Sean might say that he's used to taking care of himself, but urgh, someone save that boy! Chemistry... they have some. Their romance, the slight hint that we see, was so low key that I felt bored by it.
And that's the thing. I was bored throughout the whole book.
THE SCORPIO RACES has a great concept. It has a gloomy atmosphere, some pretty bloody action sequences and the characters go through dilemmas that make my heart squeeze. The main problem is that I'm just not a fan of her style of writing, nor any of the characters, and so this translated into a situation whereby I skimmed through the book to find out what happens in the main conflict.
Maggie Stiefvater books are not doing anything for me, with the exception of her fairy series. I've read five of them, and this is the third that hasn't captivated me. Following these odds, this will be the last Stiefvater book that'll be reviewed here. I just don't think it's fair to readers or the author to review when I know I won't enjoy the book.(less)
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Cinderella as a cyborg. Let's take a minute to absorb that fact and continue. For all that I love the Cinderella aspects, and the futuristic re-imagining such as the pumpkin carriage and the prosthetic foot as the glass slipper, it was the Lunar dyna...moreCinderella as a cyborg. Let's take a minute to absorb that fact and continue. For all that I love the Cinderella aspects, and the futuristic re-imagining such as the pumpkin carriage and the prosthetic foot as the glass slipper, it was the Lunar dynamics and sci-fi elements unrelated to Cinderella that completely captured me.
The Lunar Queen, particularly. I love me some crazy tyrant who is at risk of losing her absolute power. *rubs hands together gleefully*
The struggle between Kai and the Queen was electric. Kai's internal struggle was that of a new King: keeping the peace that had been established by his father, and wanting to make a stand for himself/ wanting better for his people. I'd love to see more development of Cinder and Kai's relationship, as well as that between Cinder and her family.
That the moon, our moon, is now a kingdom by itself, and its people now not considered Earthlings not just by place of birth, but by the genetic mutation/evolution that occurred after eons of living there--that was my favourite, favourite, favouritest part.
CINDER would have gotten full marks, but it left me hanging right at the moment I was expecting some pretty heavy payoff. It was horrible, and I was left wondering if I'd gotten a book with half the story cut off. I was literally flipping through several copies at the bookstore, until I verified that nope, unless that store was particularly unlucky, that was where the book ended. The other customers had slowly been edging around me, and I wondered if it was due to the increasingly hysterical glint in my eye. ;-;(less)
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UNDER THE NEVER SKY was one of the books being heartily recommended on Twitter a while ago, and I picked it up on a whim. In full disclosure, romance in post-apocalyptic times has never been one of my favourite themes, and the whole love across two d...moreUNDER THE NEVER SKY was one of the books being heartily recommended on Twitter a while ago, and I picked it up on a whim. In full disclosure, romance in post-apocalyptic times has never been one of my favourite themes, and the whole love across two different worlds is terribly overdone.
UTNS is told from the point of views of our two protagonists, Aria and Perry, who live in two vastly different worlds. Aria lives with the best of technology, coddled in Reverie, whereas Perry lives in the harsh outback, where living is barely more than existing. Most of the setting is on the outside, where readers get to experience the harsh heat along with the dangers of the Aether, which looms over our characters during the journey.
Despite their very different upbringings, Perry and Aria sound alike half the time. This is partly because their speech pattern and underlying thoughts seem to be in line most of the time. There's some slang and mentions of accents, but other than that, it's hard to tell that Perry and Aria do not come from the same place. This happens for the other characters too, who serve their purposes and then disappear after doing so. I wouldn't mind mostly, except that I kept forgetting who they are, and flipped through the previous pages to remember.
The outside world where Perry lived crackled under Rossi's descriptions. The Aether is a constant reminder, which works well to heighten the danger of the terrain, but unfortunately it has more presence than our two main protagonists. There are some sub-plots and mysteries which were sadly underused, and I wished had more focus given to them rather than being skimmed over and replaced by the romance, which bogs down the story.
This is a romance in post-apocalyptic times, but there's not much chemistry between the characters. I don't care about Perry and Aria enough despite their personal struggles, and find the romantic actions they go through (e.g. flying into one another's arms, not an actual quote from the novel) wooden, and at times slightly cringeworthy. It feels like they're going through the motions rather than actual feeling and falling in love. Separately, they have some struggles and personal development that I loved reading about. I wished more time could have been spent on that rather than the romance, but I suppose it'll be elaborated more in the sequels.
While the world that Rossi created was intriguing, and the setting was one I appreciated, given its unforgiving nature, the forced chemistry between the characters was not enough to sell me on the romance that is the main focus of UTNS.(less)
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I didn't think much of DEADLY COOL when I first heard about it. I thought it was going to be the type of light-hearted fun that crossed over into trashy territory, and I wasn't in the mood for that at the moment. Then Gail from Ticket to Anywhere rav...moreI didn't think much of DEADLY COOL when I first heard about it. I thought it was going to be the type of light-hearted fun that crossed over into trashy territory, and I wasn't in the mood for that at the moment. Then Gail from Ticket to Anywhere raved about it on Twitter, and I picked it up.
I didn't think much of DEADLY COOL when I first heard about it. I thought it was going to be the type of light-hearted fun that crossed over into trashy territory, and I wasn't in the mood for that at the moment. Then Gail from Ticket to Anywhere raved about it on Twitter, and I picked it up.
In a word, DEADLY COOL is adorable. While the murder mystery wasn't exactly thrilling nor suspenseful, the narrator, Hartley is exactly what makes this book gold. Hartley is the epitome of the good girl that my parents would have loved for me to be when I was a teenager: sweet, smart and hardworking. She's funny and witty without having any mean undertones. If Hartley wasn't such a captivating narrator, I'd hate her on principle. *cough*
Halliday captured Hartley's voice well. It's nice to read about a character who's just so optimistic and cheerful, and doesn't have so much drama in her life. Someone who actually enjoys school, which is rare in YA books. It's just nice to read about a character who sounds like an actual teenager I might know. Hartley's school, HHHS has a major presence even without the murder, and it's as much a character as the living, breathing humans in DC. Sam and Chase complement Hartley, and their interactions made me laugh a lot. Let's not forget Hartley's ex-boyfriend Josh, who for all his faults, manage to be endearing.
How much do I love that the romance with Chase didn't really go anywhere, and was left to be further developed over the sequels in the series? I'd have been disappointed if the burgeoning sparks between Hartley and Chase led to an immediate conclusion in DEADLY COOL, because it did feel like they barely knew each other. It's the first time in a while since I've felt pleased that the author did so, and at the same time, displeased at having to wait for the sequel.
Perfect for one of those times when you just want to escape from the world with a light, funny read that captures the voice of the 21st century teenager. It's exactly what I've been looking for, and I'll be waiting for the sequel. Readers. When we get what we want, we just want more. Now.(less)
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I've just finished reading the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and I can't quite get over the terror and feeling of helplessness that seems to accompany the book. The reason why I like this book is the fact that it shows even though civilisation has...moreI've just finished reading the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and I can't quite get over the terror and feeling of helplessness that seems to accompany the book. The reason why I like this book is the fact that it shows even though civilisation has deteriorated, there are still people out there with enough humanity left in them, who don't think that the Games are humane, and that kind of brings hope to the situation.* The games are utterly barbaric, with teenagers having to kill one another for SPORT. Imagine a stuffy old British guy saying that with the utmost contempt in his voice.
"Utterly barbaric!"
And of course, the romantic tension (never thought I'd ever use the phrase, but there's a first time for everything): will Katniss get together with Peeta (obviously, but when, how and how long?) or Gale, her best friend (nooooooo)?
Recommended for:
Anyone who loves a good scare about what the future might be. And perhaps kickass girls who know how to manipulate the media mhmmm. Perhaps someone who's read Battle Royale, so you can see what the comparison's all about.(less)
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The thing that drew me to the Necropolis paperback was the fact that it was green. Totally green. THIS GREEN. Of course, the pages aren't green inside, which makes it easier to read. The packaging and cover were totally eye catching, and I have to sa...moreThe thing that drew me to the Necropolis paperback was the fact that it was green. Totally green. THIS GREEN. Of course, the pages aren't green inside, which makes it easier to read. The packaging and cover were totally eye catching, and I have to say: This is totally my first time buying a book judging solely on the cover. Of course, the assurance that Anthony Horrowitz is a great writer had played a small part.
But other than that, totally on the cover.
Okay, I'm overusing the word "totally".
Out of the sea of books in the bookstore, that was the one which caught my attention and held it for a month. (That was how long it took me to give in to temptation and decide to buy it)
Enough about the design, now about the plot. I can sum it up easily: THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. The plot, the characters, the pacing, everything: 5 stars.
Necropolis is the fourth book of and my first introduction to the Power of Five series by Anthony Horowitz . This time around, it's about 15 year old Scarlet. Everything was normal until one day, she saw the boy that she'd been dreaming about for years enter through the door of a church. Curious, she decide to follow, and from there, the horror started.
She managed to return to her homeland, but ever since then, she's been followed by a sense of danger and people following her. Even though questions plagued her, she knew better to keep quiet. She can't trust anyone, not even her family and friends. Those who know of her die just because they have contact with her.
From there, the tale moves from to Hong Kong. And things just keep getting worse.
Why did her father leave a mysterious message asking her to go to Hong Kong at the drop of a hat, and just disappear? What's happened to Hong Kong?
But more importantly...
Will Scarlet survive?
Check out the excerpt here.
Frankly, I like the book. It had a fairly ominous tone to it, and I don't know why, but I love it when a relatively important character dies. It makes it seem all the more real to me. The thrill of the chase and adventure is always better than some fairytale all's well ends' well ending for me. The plot is very tightly constructed. If you miss even a single tidbit, you probably won't know why the event unfolded like it did.
Recommended for:
Fans of James Patterson, Michael Grant. Those who love reading about kids working together to bring down an evil corporation.(less)
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