Selena (Life of a Random) > Recent Status Updates

It's getting SUPER INTENSE NOW.

Kind of speed reading (I can't help c'mon) now. I really like the character interaction so far. Character background etc.

Not super crazy about Kaz?

Alright I'm getting more invested now 👍👍

I feel like it took a while to get to the action/main purpose of the book but also I feel like that time was kinda needed to establish character & character history??

Inej is my favorite! Followed by Jesper. I think.

Also bemusedly (is that a word?) looking at the baby councilman's son.

**I'm not very far in so this is not at all reflect my "final" feelings about the book.

BUT here are some thoughts:
>> These characters seem very mature for their age. Not just a little, VERY. Ofc, I know that it's a hugely different world & situation but just putting it out there. Also like 3 of the main people are 17.

>> I haven't really fallen in love with any of the characters yet? tbc

Yay I finally finished it!

It wasn't so much that I find it super boring or anything, but I've had a busy summer and it didn't capture my attention v strongly. I've had to take breaks too which of course means getting pulled out of the storyworld for too long.

I like it, but I don't love it.

Ron is my favorite.

In fact all of the Weasleys are probably my favorites.

*shrugs* I appreciate humor. ;)

Harry does lots of things on impulse which I do NOT understand lol as the overthinker and anxiety-ridden person I am.

It's been good so far.

Disclaimer: Don't hate me for any less than enthusiastic or matter-of-fact observations. I don't hate it. Also, I didn't read it as a child so that nostalgia isn't there for me.

Alrighty, I'm actually liking it a lot more since I got past the very beginning. Tbh it could have been that I wasn't in the mood cause I'm v mood-reader, BUT it's sped up, more magic, new world, etc. I like :)

So I finally got my ish together and finished the last half of the book before I forgot/lost interest.

The ending was good. It dived into a lot of new, interesting things at once. New abominations/creations, emotions, etc.

In the end, the worldbuilding was impressive but I wasn't as impressed with the characters. I never really stopped being slightly annoyed by Penryn.

>> I admit the storyworld is really interesting, and it has gotten more so as I've read more of the book
>> there are cool things like swords who pick their masters etc.
>> penryn's inner dialogue still, to me, sounds like a 13 year old who sometimes (or most of the time) fangirls over One Direction aka Raffe
>> conclusion: her voice is a bit immature to me

I have to say... I am very impressed with how this book changed my mind.
I guess I have to admit that I don't mind the romantic couple...

All in all, it was an amazing book. Everything made sense at the end. I think it's even more amazing because it showed that girls can be independent women and still depend on guys and that guys can be independent men and still depend on girls. (and the mc is brave as heck omg)

I am actually in awe of the mc right now and I'm learning more about the military academy life than I've ever known before.

BUT (and I'm hesitant to say this cause I say it all the time??) what is this thing where she's crushing on 2 guys, at least by her body language. but she refuses to accept she likes 1 while she absolutely is almost in love with the other 1 with almost no interactions.?? Am i missing something?

This book has kind of surprised me with several things...

First of all, it has some creepy ish. Like schizophrenic mothers who do dark things. And shadow monsters.

It's also a bit cruder than I usually like.

There's a lot of description too? Sometimes it feels like a fanfic because it goes through and describes every detail.

I don't know?? Hopefully my feelings will change! (don't get mad ness)

>> I was left half-wondering if I was making things up & he was actually ok because the switch was sudden.

no like um confused. halp.

CONS:
>> a little skeptical bc how quickly Alina believed the Darkling's mother about how evil the Darkling was?
>> I mean. It was so abrupt. Why? I think it would've benefited w/ more hinting at the evil-ness?
>> CLICHE LOVE INTERESTS.
>> fast forwarding much? too much telling imo

This was actually pretty nice

PROS:
>> the powers were cool and the fact that they weren't magic but a micro science
>> the setting was pretty cool too, Imperial Russian an all that.
>> The form that evil took was unique and pretty terrifying which it's supposed to be so mission accomplished.
>> It actually terrifies me that the Darkling is so evil but he had me convinced that he was good no problem. 1/2

Well kids I'm finally reading this book. I've been in the bookworm blogosphere so long that I remember when everyone was hype about this JUST coming out.

Maybe that's why I randomly decided to address this to "kids"?

I feel old.

"We can’t let boys define how we feel about ourselves. You have to know who you are before you should let any boy worth anything in.”

Aaand Kasie West writes the best guy/life advice for girls. Or anyone I guess.

"You’ll be fine. See you Saturday.” I hung up the phone, the smile still on my face. There was nothing that made a girl feel better about a guy humiliating her than a different cute guy asking her out.

Behind me, Gage said in a low voice, “He will not be fine.” Then he laughed maniacally."

(XD omg Gage is the best)

That was such an amazing, fulfilling experience honestly. I connected with the mc so much, read about making friends, not being afraid of connecting with yourself, of being truly yourself. That it's okay to be imperfect. That it's okay to be angry. It's okay to cry.

And that "I'm fine" is the most misused sentence in America. So yeah.

I loved it. *heart eyes*

"I don't know. I love my friends, but yet, I'm discovering that they don't know me very well. It's not their fault, though. I've never let them. I've never really known myself."

Man does that hit hard.

I didn't really have a lot of expectations coming into this and kinda thought it would just be a really fluffy/light/chick-flicky book to get me started reading for the year. HOWEVER I rly like it. It's making me examine myself + think about how I deal with things. <3

>> Georgie was spunky, impulsive, prone to slightly hasty decisions, but she is completely relatable. She comes into the situation with no idea what is going on, defensive, etc. And I love how the author basically makes the reader blind too through that.
>> the variety in personality is amazing: there are quite girls, fierce ones, practical ones. There's a half-Indian girl. There's a red head with freckles.

^^

>> Georgie was spunky, impulsive, prone to slightly hasty decisions, but she is completely relatable. She comes into the situation with no idea what is going on, defensive, etc. And I love how the author basically makes the reader blind too through that.
>> the variety in personality is amazing: there are quite girls, fierce ones, practical ones. There's a half-Indian girl. There's a red head with freckles.

^^

LOVING SO MUCH. Gosh, girl power to the max.

The romance doesn't feel super genuine.

1) They see each other
2) Fall in love almost instantly
3) Go on adventure where both try to stab each other in the back and trick each other almost constantly
4) End: WE LOVE EACH OTHER. We make each others' hearts whole. I cannot live without you.

What.

I actually super much like the worlds. Maybe it's the dragging plot in between that bothers me the most?

Sadly... this book is pretty meh for me so far. Don't get me wrong, concept=good. plot speed/writing style=not up to par (or at least not imo).

Pretty description heavy, not super fond of the characters, BUT I do love the creativity of mythology type stuff. That's nice.

I think I'm on my way to being hooked

ohhh my godddd. wowie. this plot is twisting and turning so much especially with the characters.

I love it.

the reveals are another level epic. ^^

Wow this book is v unique. The world and characters are so rich it's like my brain's in overdrive while I'm devouring it XD

99% of the reason I'm taking so long to finish this book (not that long but still) is because I spend so much time looking at the illustrations.

Guys, this is a beautiful book.

You can feel the love & care in each illustration. The author has a great subtle sense of humor. The story is heartbreaking.

Guys.

There are no cons here.