Acid - Emma Pass

*I wrote this review a long time after reading the book entirely from memory (not the best idea) so this review may be vague and not brilliant.

Source: Netgalley
Pages: 431
Publisher: Corgi Children's

Synopsis: The year is 2113. In Jenna Strong's world, the government has fallen and the elite police force, ACID, rule the country. They have a huge hold of the country, nothing goes unnoticed or unpunished. It is ACID that put Jenna in prison for life for killing her parents, something she struggles to remember. However, a rebellous group break her out of prison and she has to use all she has learnt to uncover the truth behind her parents her deaths.


Review: Emma Pass' debut ACID has been something that was talked about on the blogosphere for a while at the moment particularly for British bloggers. So I guess I'm a little late to the party. I'm not sure why I suddenly decided to read this. I guess I needed a good dose of dystopian and when I saw this book in my local library, it seemed like a good time to read it.

A lot of dystopians now come in the form of trilogies (*cough* Divergent, The Hunger Games *cough*) but most of all, they nearly always 100% come from America. So when I see a British author writing dystopian...well, it's just so nice to see. So I was expecting quite a lot from ACID especially since a lot of bloggers I know have recommended this book to me.

And wow, this book performed. I loved Jenna to pieces, particularly her feistiness and attitude that brought to much to her character. She is clever and determined, which although there are a lot of dystopian heroines like her, she is one that stands out above the rest, I'm not entirely sure why. I guess it's her fearlessness, her strength and just her determination. She's a strong character both physically and emotionally.

The world is one that it entirely unique and brilliantly created with the whole idea of Big Brother looming over the writing and the events that happen within the book. I liked how the reader is allowed to get more absorbed in the world through letters and reports dispersed between chapters - it made me get into the book and try and predict what would happen.
The book is certainly action-packed and reminded me a lot of an English version of Divergent and a little bit like The Declaration series by Gemma Malley. I liked the big action bits that would then be interspersed with quieter, emotional moments that almost hint at something else big about to happen. There is a serious political element to the plot which I saw some relations to the current situation, making the world and plot more real.

This was a brilliant, absorbing book to read that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I love that it was set in the UK and it is just so refreshing to see a UK author being something different to the world of dystopia. I'm looking forward to reading The Fearless, Pass' next book. ACID is action packed with a strong, female lead that raises questions about society in such an engaging, superb way. Emma Pass is definitely one to look out for in the future.

I give it a 5 out of 5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher to allowing me to review this book!

Cress - Marissa Meyer (#3)

**This is the third book in a series so there will be spoilers for the first two books in the series. Have a look at my reviews for Cinder and Scarlet - totally recommend this series!**

Source: Own
Pages: 550
Publisher: Penguin
Series: #3 in The Lunar Chronicles

Synopsis: Cinder, Captain Thorne, Scarlet and Wolf are now fugitives on the run with most of Earth and Lunar hunting them down. Meanwhile, they are plotting to overthrow Levana and replace the Queen of Lunar.
Their best hope is with Cress, a girl that has been imprisoned alone on a satellite to hack and spy Earth for Levana. After attempting to rescue Cress, the group is separated. Cress has her freedom but is also stuck in the middle of the Sahara desert with Thorne. Meanwhile, Cinder must prevent the marriage between Levana and Emperor Kai when he could be killed. Cinder, Scarlet and Cress need to unite to try and save Earth from Levana's power.

Review: As soon as I heard about the release of CRESS, I was eagerly anticipating it, willing it to come sooner, pre-ordering the book and then, waiting for the right time to read it and know I would enjoy it. Cinder and Scarlet are two of the best books I have read and I knew that this book would not let me down in the hugely brilliant Lunar Chronicles.

The thing with Marissa Meyer's books is that they are all quite long, mostly about 500 pages. While this probably fazes some people, I like it - I feel I get a real depth to the story, development of the characters and SO MUCH HAPPENS that it just makes me get sucked more into the novel. I thought this would take me longer to read than most 200-odd paged books. However, it took me about about 5 days to read (which is like a record for me), I rushed through it wanting desperately to know what happened to the crew of the Rampion, to find if the wedding goes ahead, what would happen with Cress, the different romances - it makes it an incredibly engaging and brilliant read. There are so many twists in the narrative with many of the questions and secrets I wanted answers for being answered from the last two books, but soon being replaced with even more questions to be discovered in the last book.

Continuing on the theme of fairy tales, CRESS is based around Rapunzel. I didn't see as many similarities to the well-known fairytale as in Cinder and Scarlet, although that was never a big fairytale for me, but I ended up seeing similarities to Tangled. It was brilliant to see more of the characters of Thorne, Cinder, Iko, Kai, Dr Erland, Scarlet and Wolf from the previous books and it felt very familiar in the setting and plot to me. One of my only complaints would be the character of Cress. I found her a little pathetic at times, it's clear she is not as brave and strong a character as Cinder and Scarlet, with her strength being her intelligence. She was a nice addition to the story but I just disliked her shyness at times latterly.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time full of romance, action, thrillers, humour, friendships and brilliant writing. CRESS I think is my favourite of the series so far with Cinder a close second. I finished this book while on a train and was sitting there for about half an hour trying to contain my feelings just like 'WHAT JUST HAPPENED THEN?!', the ending was just...amazing. I cannot wait for Winter next year and I'm sad to see the series end with Winter too. This is going to be a long but rewarding wait.

If you've read this entire review and haven't read Cinder, Scarlet or Cress - I would recommend these to be read soon, they are utterly brilliant and I'm so glad I discovered this series.

I give this 5 out of 5

Related Reviews:
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

WINTER IS PUBLISHED IN EARLY 2015

More Than This - Patrick Ness

Source: Borrowed Proof
Pages: 480
Publisher: Walker

There have been times in the last few crazy months where I've been very low about the blogging part of my life. I felt that I'd built this book orientated world around me, working at Waterstones, my A levels and my blog yet it felt like that didn't matter.
However, the day when I was handed this book into my hands to read, that day it made me realise how much I love what I do and how much I love books.
On that day, I was at work and met my friend who had just lost her job at the independent Lion and Unicorn Bookshop, that has recently been shut down. It was a sad time to meet her. This was a place where she had grown up, done work experience at and then had her first job there all while I was over the road at the big chain Waterstones store. She's told me that we're not the reason they've closed although we certainly didn't help but I still feel bad about it all. Anyway, this was the last proof she had received there and they allowed for her to keep it.
The thing about Patrick Ness is that his books have that habit of bringing people together. It was actually this friend that told me to read his Chaos Walking series all those years ago when I'd just become friends with her. I read the first page of The Knife of Never Letting Go, looked at my friend with an expression that read 'Really?' until she assured me I should carry on. And I did. And I realised HOW good his books were. How much I loved reading in general and most of all, that I finally had friends that appreciated reading at the same level I did. It was brilliant. So when my friend handed me this book, it brought together all that.

Synopsis: In one shocking yet chaotic moment, Seth drowns. He is dead. Yet in the confusing moments afterwards, he wakes up in the village he grew up in. Yet the village is now deserted. Houses abandoned, electricity vanished and no traces of people who disappeared a long time before Seth arrives. This is a type of hell, Seth is sure. Until he meets two other young people - Regine and Tomasz - who help try to come to terms with the events that have let them to this moment and discover the mystery behind this abandoned world they now live within.

Review: There are two definite things I love about Patrick Ness.
1) As many, I LOVE his writing, his fluid writing that really puts you in the moment with Seth; the mix of the present and past woven together through the narrative mixed with the different styles of language from the three protagonists that give that distinctive originality of character - there aren't many writers that have the power to that all, and all done incredibly well too.
2) One of the reasons I really love Patrick Ness' writing and himself as a person is his understanding. It's so clear that he understands teenagers and young people and many people will agree with me in saying that there needs to be more people like that around. I've known about Ness' books since I was about 14 and throughout that difficult period of adolescence, it's remarkable how much I can say his books teach you in becoming your own person. Patrick Ness truly made me find friends, the same two people who are my best friends even now, and helped me realise that loving to read wasn't all that bad and that I shouldn't hide it. Anyway, basically, Patrick Ness gets young people. And there are so many party poppers I want to let loose at that statement.

MORE THAN THIS is quite something. There are plenty of issues within this book - sexuality, suicide, depression - which I'm sure some single-minded adult will pick it out as 'reasons why teenagers shouldn't read' or whatever but that is exactly why I liked this book. It's hard to define a genre really for MORE THAN THIS with it being clearly contemporary yet also dabbling in science fiction and mystery to create a novel that is utterly compelling and becomes quite an addictive read. I'll say it now that this book is LONG and for me the first part when Seth is alone, it dragged on a little bit for me. Although soon the narrative starts up and I got kind of hooked on the plot, desperately wanting to know what would happen next.

This book is a lot of things. It means a lot to me for different reasons than others. But apart from that, this is a book that deserves to be tried by everybody, regardless of your normal tastes, walks of life - whatever. This is a book that just needs to be read and shared and read again and shown the love it deserves.

I give it a 5 out of 5


Related Reviews: 
The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness
The New World - Patrick Ness (short story)

Champion - Marie Lu (#3)

*There may be spoilers in this review for those that have not read the first two in the series, Legend (review) and Prodigy (review)*

Source: Own Book
Pages: 369
Publisher: Penguin
Series: #3 in the Legend series
Challenges: None

I am a massive fan of Marie Lu and her amazing Legend series. Her books are entirely unappreciated for how good they are. So much so that when a customer at work asked for Legend specifically, I got a little bit excited, raced over the section to get him the book and told him how brilliant it was on the way. I think my reaction scared him a little bit.
Anyway, I have been waiting and waiting for the third and final book in the series since THAT ending in Prodigy, I literally had no clue what would take place in the next book. So I was pretty excited for this one to say the least!

Synopsis: June and Day have given up so much for helping the Republic and now the country is on the brink of evolving into something good. June is now in a elite government position as one of the Princeps-Elect while Day is in a high military position. However, just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak threatens the Colonies and war seems to be inevitable. This plague is powerful and deadlier than ever and it is up to June and Day once again to try and save their country.

Review: This series, and this book alone, have done things that many other series have not succeeded in. The first book was like your typical dystopian - horrible divided America, divided poor and rich sectors, two people meet and fall in love and work together to make things better blah-blah-blah (for the record I love dystopia so the whole sameness thing doesn't bother me too much). However, I liked the fact it was military based, that there was an equal share of June and Day - not one dominating in the narration. I loved how political this series is - I just really enjoyed and loved this series. The second book blew the first out of the water, it was just so good. In all honesty, I don't think anything could match up to that second book. But the third book made a pretty good stab at it.

This book takes the reader in a number of different directions, making you try and predict the ending without having much success until the ending finally hits. As by all Marie Lu's books, I was constantly kept on my toes and for a book that I took me a while to read with lots of university work mingling into my reading time, that really helped to make me absorbed into the action when I did return to this book.
There is just something so BRILLIANT about this book, something I can't put my finger on. I think it is the plot and the premise, but mostly I have to credit Marie Lu's way of writing, which is incredible. This series of books are quite short, particularly as I reflect now on what happens within them. Yet she does this marvellous thing where we have all this intense action, chaos and emotion and then it all slows down, quieten down for a moment when there are scenes of intense emotion or sadness or love. It's something I admire quite a lot, her ability to pace a book - such as an action packed dystopia - like that.

Readers are returned to the ups and downs of the amazing characters of June and Day in the beautifully handled duel narrative. Normally, I prefer one or the other when there are two protagonists, but I can't help but loving both of these characters (although I see a lot of myself in June). The addition of Auden and Eden was great too and I loved both of these characters. It was nice to finally have them in the spotlight of the narrative as they've both been in the background for the series. There is a bit of love triangle lingering in the background of the narrative, which normally I would roll my eyes at...but somehow it works. Not entirely sure how, but it just does.

I cannot finish this review without talking about the ending. Oh my. Lu's endings are brutal for the frequent use of cliff hangers, adding to my love-hate relationship with them. I know many don't particularly like the ending to this book and the series, but I think it's perfect, particularly for the relationship of June and Day. It's ambiguous, almost annoyingly so. But there are many hints for the reader to make up their own mind of the overall solution. In my mind, I have a pretty good idea of what happens after the pages end, my own piece of imagination, my own interpretation. I love books like that.

This review doesn't really justify the beauty of this book. It was a book I thoroughly enjoyed and a great end to one of the best series I have encountered. This series is so unappreciated and I wish I could get lots more people reading this series and giving it the recognition it deserves. CHAMPION had the perfect ending in my opinion, as well as a decent beginning and middle! It's sad to say goodbye to the Republic, to June and Day. But at least Lu has done it in a way that shows the best parts of this series.

I give it a 5 out of 5

Other Books by this author:
Legend (#1)
Prodigy (#2)

Prodigy - Marie Lu (#2)

**This is the second book in the Legend series so there may be some spoilers in this review for those who have not read the first book. If you would like to read my review of the first book, Legend, click here**

After the amazement at discovering such a great series a couple of months ago, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of the sequel to Legend soon. With a quick perusal of my library's funky new website, a reserve and a phone call informing me PRODIGY was ready and waiting for me at my library, I had the chance to find out what's next for June and Day.

Synopsis: June and Day arrive in Las Vegas after June helped Day escape his execution. However, within hours of being there, it is announced that the Elector Primo has died with his young son, Anden taking his place. The pair join a group of Patriots - rebels fighting against the Republic government who want to see a united America once again - who are eager for June and Day's involvement. They will help Day find his brother, but only if they help assassinate the new Elector and push the Republic into chaos and revolution. It is the chance to save a nation that has been silenced for so long. But soon, June starts to question whether this is right, are they getting the full story and ultimately, what if Auden is the right person to be Elector?

Review: Okay, so I thought Legend, the first in this extraordinary series, was pretty good, very different and original from many other dystopians out there. But then I read PRODIGY. And Marie Lu just blew me away. Again. But so much more. SOMEHOW I thought this was better than Legend and that book was pretty darn good.

Part of the beauty of dystopians is the action that makes the genre a bit more interesting apart from the whole corrupt world thing. In many dystopian sequels, there is a different kind of 'second-book-syndrome'. Gone is the definition that the second book cannot live up to the first. FAR from that. The second books in many series - Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Divergent series), Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games series) and Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (Delirium series) to name a few - seem to just be so action packed, like EVERYTHING seems to happen. I guess it's probably because in these trilogies, there is no world-building or setting up the story neither is there any tying up loose ends or creating an ending. But I find, in all the three novels mentioned, the action becomes waaaaay too intense. Just too much to absorb for the humble reader.
BUT in PRODIGY, does that happen? NO. This is so action-packed, don't get me wrong, like literally some chapters - make that MOST chapters, I was breathless by the end, needing a little break to absorb and understand what on earth just happened. But something I found in this novel is that the action was never too much, never too intense and chaotic to read. It's almost cinematic in a way as it is so vivid that I could visualise it all happening so clearly. And THAT, my friends, is due to the amazing writing of Miss Marie Lu.

Lu moves the plot incredibly fast especially with the duel narrative from Day and June, but there are these moments that arise from the surface, moments of romance, kindness, sadness, fear, death. All these emotional moments that once she slows the writing down, the reader appreciates them in full. It's incredibly hard to describe, but if you've read the novel, I really hope you understand what I'm jabbering on about.
There is something compulsive about Marie Lu's writing. She just makes me want to read and read on and on which had me telling myself 'I'll go to sleep after this chapter'. I read half of the book in a couple of hours late one night which as a slow reader, that is a huge achievement for me.

Ah! The characters! I loved June and Day much more and I just love that both these characters share the spotlight in the narrative. These are both quite complex characters who both have a real depth to them and that is handled perfectly. They continue to develop individually and in their relationship together yet none of the aspects that make them so unique and likable in the first book is lost at all.
Some authors have a habit of not developing or evolving their secondary characters which most of the time, make books better or worse whatever the genre. In PRODIGY, that certainly happens in Kaede and Tess as well as the addition of some new characters like Razor, a commander, and Anden (who is just too lovely!). I thought some characters that were in the first book, like Thomas, were left out a little bit. He does appear briefly but then doesn't return so I hope he comes back in the third book.

Can we just pause and look at the ending? I mean Legend was a little bit of a cliffhanger, with me literally about to fall of the edge. BUT THIS ENDING IS JUST...AH. IT'S SO MEAN.
Without ruining anything, for the last quarter of the book, I was sitting there thinking 'This is such a closed ending'. Like it seemed like an end to the series but I KNEW that there was a third book and I was thinking 'What the hell is going to happen in that book then?'.
THEN. POW, POW, POW. All these events and things are thrown at me and before I can react, before I can even think, before I absorb these sudden change of events, it's the last line of the book and once again I'm turning the pages frantically looking for the rest of the story. So basically, watch out for that killer of an end. Because it's unexpected. So unexpected.

If this review didn't quite illustrate my thoughts, in a sentence: this book was brilliant. So brilliant. (okay so two sentences).
It's hard to fathom how good it is and what makes it this good but I'm pretty sure if you read this series and enjoyed it as I did then you'll understand. I haven't come across an amazing dystopian series like this since Divergent, and I read a lot of dystopian fiction. I'll be in the queue for definite for the third and final book and eagerly anticipating with Marie Lu is going to face me with now.
Go buy this book. Buy this series and celebrate the beauty of reading. This book reminded me I'm so in love with reading. And that is just what the doctor ordered.

My thoughts are pretty much summed up in this review I found on Goodreads including the whole thing at the beginning about wondering what I would do if I encountered a zombie. True fact.

I give it a 5 out of 5


Author's Website: http://marielu.org/
Pages: 371
Publisher: Penguin
Challenges: None

Related Reviews: 
Legend - Marie Lu
Noble Conflict - Malorie Blackman
The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness
Divergent - Veronica Roth

Noble Conflict - Malorie Blackman

I was first introduced to Malorie Blackman when I stumbled across Noughts and Crosses in a bookshop, really loved the first few pages and then fell in love with that series. And any British teenager in their late teens will remember the CBBC series of Pig-Heart Boy, an adaptation of one of her books!? I was both amazed and creeped out by it.
I actually met Malorie Blackman at my local library about 2 years ago with my friend which was like reliving my childhood - she was so lovely too. She mentioned at the time she was working on something a lot like Noughts and Crosses but a bit different which I knew would appeal to me when it was released. So when I first heard about NOBLE CONFLICT and then *dun, dun, dun* saw it on Netgalley, it was like I was 8 again.

Synopsis: Kaspar has grown up in a world founded on peace and harmony after a bitter and destructive war that destroyed much of the world. The rebels on the outside of the city still attempt to cause war and take back the land that they think is theirs. Kaspar is part of an elite fighting force called the Guardians who protect the city, its inhabitants and the High Council but without destructive or violent weapons. Soon after Kaspar joins, he meets a rebel face to face. But this rebel is a lovely girl called Rhea. From this moment, he is haunted by memories and visions that do not belong to him as he starts to realise the secrets that have been hidden about the rebels and what Kaspar is actually fighting for.

Review: With the amount of dystopians on the market, you would think another one - like NOBLE CONFLICT - would get boring. But in all honesty, this is one of the most original I've read.
Everyone would like a peaceful world where society was based on non-violent actions and this is what Blackman plays upon.

I completely think this book justifies why Malorie Blackman is Children's Laureate. I mean, some of the surprises I didn't see coming at all, some I did (mostly because she hints SO MUCH along the way plus I have weird 'read between the lines' English skills). There are so many twists and turns throughout the story that do keep the narrative moving mostly as well as interesting. There are some really thought provoking incidents and moments and I can see a lot of issues that can be translated to present day - much like in Noughts and Crosses.

The characters are well-built and react well off one another. The novel is written in third person which for some I can see they would not particularly connect with Kaspar then. However, I found this didn't hindrance anything and actually allows the reader to see the action from more than one point of views yet without confusion. Kaspar is a character that many may find annoying  - he has grown up thinking he knows the right thing but this is soon changed. For me, I found him engaging, strong, determined and someone who was just misled. Actually, he reminded me a lot of June from the Legend series by Marie Lu. There are some good secondary characters too - Voss, Mac, Rhea, Dillon. Even when bad things happen to them, despite the third person, I still felt emotion for them.

In spite of this, not every book is perfect. The thing that stood out for me was that this book was slow in pace and in all fairness, the real action was in the last quarter of the book. The first part was great with the superb world-building that is some of the best I've seen. Then there's a lull. A big incident happens. Rhea appears. And then, pow, it all slows down. I actually found some of the middle part quite hard to read because in all honesty, I got a little bored.
So reasons? Well, I have two. Number One - there are two main storylines or issues running throughout the story. The discovery of knowledge about the founding of the city, the High Council and the rebels and then running parallel is the strange problem of Rhea and the whole memory thing. About halfway through the discovery/lies thing comes to the foreground.
Then, because of reason Number Two, this book is written in third person which works for the majority of the book but in this bit in the middle, not so much. It is interesting and kind of essential to the plot but I just think it did let the book down a little bit. I don't know - maybe I just anticipated this book too much.

I did like this book, I assure you and it was a true Malorie Blackman novel. Despite some of my writing issues as well as the humour seeming quite forced at times, this novel (literally and metaphorically) explodes in the final chapters turning everything on its head and leaving the reader with this sense of both a closed ending with Kaspar's story ending far beyond the last page. This is certainly far from Noughts and Crosses (but can anything be better than those books?) but it's not far off.
It's just so great to see a British author finally on the young adult dystopian scene.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.malorieblackman.co.uk/
Pages: 368
Publisher: Random House
Challenges: BBC

Related Reviews:
Legend - Marie Lu
The Declaration - Gemma Malley
The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness

Mini Reviews: Legend, All These Things I've Done, Scarlet

So while I was away, I went on a bit of a dystopian rampage. Literally. This has to be one of my favourite genres and while some dislike the amount of books on offer in this genre out there, I like the variety you can choose from, getting more and more interesting each time I read them.
While I can't do a full out review for all of these (especially as one of them I read months ago), I am going to do some mini-reviews. Bottom line is though: all of these are great books!

LEGEND - Marie Lu (#1)

Synopsis: The Western states of America are now home to the Republic. Born into an elite American family, June is Republic's prodigy training to one of the Republic's best military officers. Born in the slums, Day is the Republic's most wanted criminal although his motives for his crimes aren't as bad as they seem to the public. There is no reason for these two teenagers to cross path until June's brother, Metias, is murdered and the Republic name Day as the prime suspect. June vows to avenge Metias' death and catch Day once and for all while Day tries to help his family survival the vicious plague. As they both chase each other, they uncover the secrets the country has been hidden and the lengths they will go to make sure the public never find out.

Review: There was always something about this novel that made me hesitate when I saw it in the library or bookshop. I'm not entirely sure what it was but it may have something to do with the proud declaration on the front cover that should I like The Hunger Games, it's a given that I'll love LEGEND (like a lot of dystopians now). I finally picked it up during my blogging break, I guess because I wasn't reading to review intentionally.
However, when I started reading, I suddenly became absorbed in this startlingly different world where the military was key to the government but there was all this suspicion and secrets lying underneath the cold exteriors of the officers. June was a great protagonist, strong yet had that hint of sensitivity that comes through ever so often. I also liked Day throughout and as there wasn't much of a relationship between these two characters in this book, I hope this will develop in the next book in the series, Prodigy. The ending, oh my THE ENDING, was just...it's just happens to fast, so quick yet you're still involved and absorbed in the action and the emotions of the characters. It was incredibly well-written and clever. This book is short, unsatisfactorily short even, yet so much happens in the short amount of pages which left me finishing the book wanting the sequel immediately. This is a different kind of dystopian, one I haven't seen around which I think makes it all the more enjoyable and interesting.
I give it a 5 out of 5

ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE - Gabrielle Zevin (#1)

Synopsis: 2083, New York. In a society where coffee and chocolate is banned, water is rationed and New York is the centre of crime and corruption, as the daughter of the city's most notorious crime boss, now dead, and a part of the city's famous chocolate maker, Anya's life is rather normal. She goes to school, hangs out with her best friend, Scarlet, looks after her brother and sister as well as her dying grandmother. Meanwhile, she is also trying not to fall for the charming son of the DA's assistant. However, soon her ex-boyfriend is poisoned by chocolate that Anya's family manufactures and she finds herself as the prime suspect. Anya is thrust into the spotlight at school, publicly and most importantly within her mafia family after years of staying hidden away.

Review: Gabrielle Zevin is an author I would normally associate with contemporary writing with a twist after reading Elsewhere and Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, which I enjoyed both. This book was good, and I liked it a lot especially the way it felt like the Prohibition era, with guns, gangsters, family loyalties  - but with chocolate and modern technology. I think the problem is the blurb and I guess the whole damn narrative of the book. The blurb made me think this would be a book about the conflict between her and her family and the impact of that on her life and in a way it is with her romance with Win central to it all. And it is and it isn't. There is a lack of action until the very end and with these expectations I had from the blurb, I ended the book feeling a little bit cheated. I did like the book, and I did find it interesting and enjoyable mostly because of the superb characters but really, I think that's as far as it goes (doing this several months after reading however). I liked most of the book's narrative up until the last quarter where I started to *gasp* dislike Anya. There was just nothing there, no emotion, no sympathy, just nothing and although that may be done on purpose, it made it incredibly boring and slow to read with this nothingness. So it was a good attempt at this dystopian/crime/contemporary/something else genre, but I do think there were flaws. I'll probably read the next book, Because It Is My Blood, but only because I want to know what's next for Win and Anya.
I give it a 3.5 out of 5

SCARLET - Marissa Meyer (#2)

*May contain spoilers for those who have not read the first book, Cinder. Here's my review for that*

Synopsis: Cinder's story continues as she tries to break out of prison although it will make her the most wanted fugitive on Earth. Meanwhile, in Europe, Scarlet's grandmother has gone missing and the police have ruled her as dead. Scarlet meets Wolf, a streetfighter hiding his own secrets and intentions, who is Scarlet's only link and evidence that will lead to her grandmother. They start to unravel one mystery together, including the secrets Scarlet's grandmother kept from her all the years she grew up. They also encounter another mystery as the stories of Cinder and Scarlet collide as they try to defeat the vicious Queen Levana and stop her plan to make Prince Kai her husband, whatever the cost. 

Review: I knew this would be good. I just knew it. This is the sequel to Meyer's debut last year, Cinder, a futuristic retelling of Cinderella. SCARLET is a retelling of Red Riding Hood, with some different interpretations of the story, one I particularly like was how they incorporated the idea of the wolf being Red Riding Hood's grandmother - very clever. I loved this second installment, especially the spilt narratives between Scarlet, Cinder and Prince Kai (yep, he's still there!) which made the story more well-rounded and gave the idea that the problems throughout the book with Queen Levana are impacting the whole world, not just in the Eastern Commonwealth.
It was well-written considering the amount of action that could overwhelm a reader. I especially loved finding out more about Cinder's past continuing from Cinder, and there are LOTS of surprise discoveries.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone that has read and loved Cinder as I did. I don't think it's quite as good compared to Cinder but there are so many things in this book that take the narrative of Cinder in a completely different direction. I am eagerly awaiting the new book, Cress, a retelling of Rapunzel coming out next year (AH NEXT YEAR?!)
I give it a 5 out of 5

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Do you agree with what I thought - let me know below!

Requiem - Lauren Oliver (#3)

**As this is the third book in the series, this review may have some SPOILERS for those that have not read Delirium (my review) or Pandemonium (my review)- the first two books in the series. I would recommend reading them before reading this book. Actually if you read this review there would be SOME MAJOR SPOILERS for those books**

After going to the UK release event in London for REQUIEM (see about that here), I realised how much I wanted to find out Lena, Alex and Julian's ending after the HORRIBLE ending in Pandemonium. I was a little apprehensive to say the least in starting this as I knew it was the final book but also I was so like 'WHAT THE HELL IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS BOOK?!' too.
So I was nervous and excited and scared and happy and nervous when I opened this book on the train ride home from the event. And in all honesty, I did not expect any of the events that happen at all.

Synopsis: After rescuing Julian from being killed and the surprising arrival of Alex - someone Lena thought was dead, Lena and her friends have escaped back into the Wilds. But the Wilds are not as safe as they used to be as the government have admitted to the presence of Invalids, something they denied for so long. The Wilds are full to the brim of regulators and patrols around every corner, ordered to kill as many rebels as possible. Lena's ground are part of a large resistance moving closer and closer to a wider rebellion. Meanwhile, Lena's best friend from her old life, Hana is being forced into marriage with Portland's new mayor, Fred. She's safe and without love after receiving the cure but there are darker, dangerous things happened even within a life that is considered safe.

Review: Well. I just...there are too many thoughts and feelings that I have for this book that there is no way I can decide on one significant definite thought.
I mean I really liked it and I think it was a good end to this series, I liked how it ended full circle especially. But there is something about it I wasn't expecting, that I feel disappointed by, and I can't quite put my finger on what that is.

The novel starts a few days after Pandemonium finishes with this lovely reunion that had me smiling to myself on the train. But there's this conflict, this underlying feeling I had that something would go terribly wrong quite soon. There's also the whole Julian versus Alex thing because they're both THERE, RIGHT THERE with Lena. I mean Alex, I liked him in Delirium but there were times when I just wanted to punch him in the face after his reaction in Pandemonium. I mean seriously, you're gone for months and you're annoyed Lena left you because she thought you were dead? Please.
Alex is a certainly a changed character, he's harsh, quiet with this fierce intensity that I found a little disturbing at times. It's clear something major has happened while he's been away from Lena (especially as last time we saw him he was thought to be dead). Then there's Julian, who I have to admit is my favourite of the guys. Lovely, lovely Julian, ever the gentleman. However, there's something changed about him also since we last saw the naive, quietly rebelling young man in Pandemonium - he's turned into someone whose grown up, taken chances, trying to fit in with those around him while being kind of ignored by the girl he fled to the Wilds for. In a sentence, at the beginning, things aren't perfect.

Unlike the other books in the series, REQUIEM is split between two narrators: Lena in the Wilds and Hana, who is living still in Portland preparing to get married to the newly appointed mayor, Fred Hargrove. I think I liked Pandemonium more than Delirium because of the way it explores the more political, underground mysteries and operations that lead to some major discoveries. Similarly, we get that from Hana's narrative. She's in this supposedly safe atmosphere yet there is something deeply sinister happening in Portland and especially, something sinister about Fred (another character who I wanted to punch). I guess what I'm saying is that I preferred the domestic setting in Portland more than the one in the Wilds. Hana was a character that I loved and wanted more page-time with in Delirium so I like that Oliver chose her as a narrator for REQUIEM. I felt sympathy for her situation and for her, even if she does behave a little spoilt at times. It kind of puts it all into perspective in a way that while Lena is fighting to be free to love, Hana is forced into a marriage arranged by the government, wanting to be free of Fred.

Unlike Pandemonium, REQUIEM has quite a slow pace with the main actions only happening the last 100 pages or so. There isn't really a definite plot until that moment. I think it's that which makes my reaction to this book not as like 'WOW'. It's really Hana's narrative that made me want to read on and on, with a faster pace particularly compared to Lena's. In a perfect world, I think the book would have been better with a faster pace but I always had this feeling throughout Lena's narrative that Oliver was building up to this huge climatic event throwing some hints, clues and a bunch of surprises throughout. I've become used to Oliver's eloquent, lyrical language that is webbed into the main narrative and it is lovely and everything...but I have trouble reading that kind of lingo. I'm like 'Ah, that's so vivid' and everything but I don't really know, I just don't remember it (?) or totally overlook it and within the next page I'm like 'Whoa, what just happened?'. It's confusing and this may just be good old me, but yeah. I had trouble reading and concentrating on the text. GAH.

I can't sign off without mentioning the ending. Yes in some ways it is disappointing, not what many expect but SERIOUSLY, I LOVED THE ENDING. When I went to the Lauren Oliver event, she talked about how she started writing fan fiction when she was younger because she never wanted the stories to end, she wanted the characters to be alive even after finishing the book. And knowing that, it's why I like the ending. Yes, it is ambiguous and open-ended. Yes, you have no idea what the final conclusion to Lena's story is. But you have some idea what it is in those last fleeting few pages. I'm sure my take on the ending is unique to me and that is the beauty of REQUIEM's ending - everyone has their own interpretation, everyone can imagine what happens after the book finishes, everyone still remembers Lena, Alex, Julian and the others. That is a real (and quite daring) skill and something that worked perfectly in my opinion.

This was a book I was thoroughly looking forward to and mostly it did not disappoint especially the ending. I quite liked the suddenness of it all, the secrets that are slowly but surely drawn out from the characters and the cinematic feel of the last few chapters. There are some emotional, heart-wrenching scenes as Hana and Lena's narratives converge into one another and some beautifully crafted moments that lead to a powerful and uplifting ending. Lauren Oliver, I have to raise a glass to you. I may have no idea of what I truly thought about this book in particular, but overall, this series has been superb. Well done.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/
Pages: 391
Publisher: Hodder
Challenges: None

Related Posts:
Review: Delirium (#1)
Review: Pandemonium (#2)
Review: Before I Fall
Lauren Oliver Event

Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver (#2)

*There may be some spoilers for the first book in the series, Delirium (here's my review for that)*

I started this a little apprehensiveness to say the least. While I liked Delirium and definitely wanted to find out what would happen next for Lena after THAT ending, it wasn't the best or memorable book I had ever read. So I thought PANDEMONIUM would be the same, honestly.
I found out a couple of months ago about the Lauren Oliver signing (more about that next week!) and having not read this, yet been given a copy by a friend, I thought it would be time to read this as the signing was for the third and final book in the series.
BOY THIS MADE UP FOR WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE IN DELIRIUM. (Get used to the CAPS by the way...)

Synopsis: After escaping Portland with Alex, Lena, alone, finds her way through the Wilds to a group of people, just like her. Fighting against the society she is forced to live within, escaping the cure that will prevent her from love. While she joins the resistance against the enforced regime, without Alex, she finds herself drifting towards a new love - someone that represents everything she is against.

Review: PANDEMONIUM is quite something. Since I started the Delirium series, I have read Lauren Oliver's other novel, Before I Fall (review) and it is now being made into a TV show with Emma Roberts playing Lena. So starting PANDEMONIUM with that already hinted to me there must be something spectacular about this book that has sparked so much interest.

PANDEMONIUM is narrated through Lena's eyes again but this time, in two different time zones, Now and Then. Then begins immediately after the ending of Delirum and shows an interesting side to Lena in coping with the loss of Alex while fitting in with her tough surroundings. It's fair to say she sticks out a bit at first. Now, which were my favourite parts of the book, details Lena's life as she goes to live in New York City undercover for the resistance along with new characters, Raven and Tack. I loved seeing a new and stronger Lena which let me know that despite the narration in Then, I knew she would be okay in the end. It was interesting having the contrast in characters actually that I think made it much more interesting than if it had been a linear structure.

In the Now parts, we are introduced to Julian. Julian is probably the epiphany of what Lena is against. Being a symbol of the younger generation, he is a part of the DFA (deliria-free America) who fight to cure the whole country of love. He isn't exactly your typical hero, I felt like he was a character I shouldn't like at the beginning but as the narrative progresses, you realise that he is merely following orders from a threatening father, it's something to hide his true beliefs. I actually preferred Julian to Alex. He seemed much more natural and I liked the slow progression of feeling between Lena and Julian who are kind of thrown together unwillingly. Their relationship is unique in that sense and the way everything just kind of happens felt much more realistic in my eyes.


Although normally I'm not a huge fan of poetry or lyrical language, I actually liked the way Oliver does this in PANDEMONIUM. I came to love the mixture of prose, speech and lyrical language that made this a lovely and enjoyable read. It makes it much more imaginative in my head, I feel like I am there, with Lena, among protesters or free in the Wilds. It was done so much better than in Delirium for me.
The concept was really the thing that got me to read this series. And while that is still there and developed further slightly, it isn't as 'Wow this is such a good idea!' than previously. However, I think that kind of suits where Lauren Oliver wanted PANDEMONIUM to go. While she doesn't explore the basics in this society with the whole love cure thing, she replaces it by exploring the intricate network of organisations making up the society that both oppose and support the cure for love. I loved this political aspect of the novel and made it much more tense and surprising, I thought.
The aspect I think that made me not like Delirium as much is that for me, it was unrealistic. In most dystopians, like Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (review), there is always the deep feeling that the situation could happen in modern society. And in Delirium I didn't get that. I could not see love being thought as a sickness. Or the governable able to force a cure upon us. However, with a look at the different worlds within and outside the city walls, I'm not sure why but for me it made the narrative that much more believable.

On a last note, OH MY FRICKING GOD THE ENDING. I have to admit I'm one of these readers who looks at the last page as they're reading (Sorry Lauren Oliver...), normally not really understanding the context of it. But OH MY. Advice? DON'T READ THE LAST PAGE because that just ruins everything! Seriously, the biggest surprise (for me anyway). I'm not sure whether I would have seen it coming had I not known but even though I did know I was still left like 'AHHH. WHAT? LIKE...WHAT?!' To say the least, I have no idea what's going to kick off in Requiem, hopefully I approve.

Overall, PANDEMONIUM is a far cry from my opinion on Delirium, making this series really stand up and be noticed in my eyes. I loved the way Oliver chose to narrate it, the settings, the new characters and what it focuses on which makes this book as good as my favourite dystopian novels. I loved PANDEMONIUM, bring on Requiem!

I give it a 5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/
Pages: 375
Publisher: Hodder
Challenges: None

Related Posts:
Review: Before I Fall
Review: Delirium #1

Insurgent - Veronica Roth (#2)

*There may be some spoilers in this review for those that have not read Divergent yet. I would highly recommend you start from the beginning of the series, so have a look at my review for the first book here!*

As soon as I finished DIVERGENT, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of INSURGENT to find out what happened next after that semi-cliffhanger. Unlike those that read DIVERGENT when it first came out, I didn't have to wait a year to find out what happened next for Tris and Tobias. After a hunt at my library, a frantic text to my friend and then a two and a half hour bus journey to hers from college (long story), I finally had my hands on a copy of INSURGENT. There was no hint at all in DIVERGENT of what Roth would throw at me next so I opened the book that evening with an open yet curious mind. Boy, that was one heck of a book...

Synopsis: Tris's initiation day into Dauntless should have been full of celebrations to be one of the few to enter the faction. But after the attack simulation, war is on the edge of breaking out as faction rivalries and conflict looms to the surface. Tris and Tobias are safe with their remaining friends (and some enemies) at Amity, trying to figure out the next steps to stop Jeanine Matthews while grieving for the family and friends that they lost. Soon they are forced to leave the Amity headquarters. but with the amount of death and destruction Tris has witnessed in such a short space of time, she has to accept her Divergence either to look towards the future with hope or to plan revenge.

Review: The plot of INSURGENT is one that is hard to describe in a short synopsis without revealing too much or sounding too vague. The book starts moments after the ending in DIVERGENT with Tris waking up on a train with Tobias, Marcus and her brother, Caleb on their way to the Amity headquarters. I'm glad Roth decided to start the narrative straight from where she left off, you miss literally nothing. The plot is hard to describe also because so much changes throughout.
And wow, so many things happen! I was just so blown away by this novel that on reading the last page, I just sat there for a few moments in shock. I mean EVERYTHING CHANGES. Roth has this skill where she makes this world which you think you know well enough from DIVERGENT, she makes these lovely characters all with depth, back stories and likable when they need to be. Yet BAM all that is completely turned on its head and sends the narrative in a completely new direction. In books, you never know the complete ending until you get to that part but Roth makes you realise that you can't trust or understand a character or setting completely because of all the secrets, the deceptions lying underneath. In a sentence, I thought I knew most of the characters (especially one whose deception to Tris was a SAY WHAT? moment) but by the end of INSURGENT, I so did not. Frequently, I was left in shock muttering 'What on earth just happened?!'.

As many trilogies, the second book is normally the worse. It's one that has to happen before the final dramatic ending but after the initial introduction of the characters and world and the first dramatic surprises. It normally suffers from 'Second Book Syndrome' as I saw a blogger once dub it. The only series which hasn't done that for me was The Hunger Games, a book that DIVERGENT is compared a lot to; Catching Fire was by far my favourite out of the three books.
INSURGENT also doesn't suffer from this syndrome. Although, I think overall DIVERGENT was a bit better, INSURGENT is up there in one of the most stressful, high-tension, action-packed books I've read. I thought DIVERGENT was action-packed but that was NOTHING compared to this book!
You are kept on edge throughout the whole book, when you think there is a peaceful moment, that is snatched away by the next dilemma being thrown at you. I did sometimes find that feeling of being on edge constantly a little too much, there are such huge events that kept happening and trying to keep up with it all needs some concentration. I felt I needed to keep reading and reading until the early hours of the morning or the last moments before I had to get off the train because I needed to know the consequences of a certain action or the next threat that would be thrown at Tris; who would die, where would they go next, what would happen to Tris and Tobias - I needed to know.

Tris was a character I absolutely loved in DIVERGENT for her toughness and empathy, I felt very connected with her struggles with her Divergence and against those that hated her. The Tris in INSURGENT is very different. She is much more emotional, confused and incredibly angry as a consequence of both her own and others actions. I'm not entirely sure how I felt about the change, it's was a little surprising I guess and there were moments where I found this version of Tris a little annoying.
She's not the only one that has a change in them. Tobias, who I adored in DIVERGENT (like nearly everyone else), shows a more independent, strategic side to himself that is always trying to be ready for the next attack to protect those he loves. He is also full of anger and angst so combined with the action, the emotions add to the tension and the feeling of being on edge. While Tobias and Tris' relationship in DIVERGENT formed into something so wonderful and perfect, INSURGENT unsurprisingly changes this and shows some ups and downs of their connection because of the horror and war around them. Looking back now, it made it more realistic and at some points, I don't think the plot would have worked had there still been this perfect, beautiful romantic relationship at the heart.
As a reader, we learn more about other characters mentioned in DIVERGENT which made it heartbreaking when certain characters were killed off or named traitors. Although Tris and Tobias mean something special to a reader, the other characters all added to my love for this book.

Now. The ending. Just....I'm still processing what happened in the final scene and the revelation literally on the last page. In the last remaining chapters, I was seriously wondering what would be in the third book. Tris' aim throughout INSURGENT was in the process of being accomplished, this person was killed, that person wasn't killed, this happened, that had happened - there felt to be a lot of closure until the very last page. And oh my. That was a little bit of a shocker that left me just flabbergasted, rushing to re-read it, staring at my reflection in the mirror opposite my bed with a look like I'd been told I'd passed all my exams with A*'s. Pure shock - it's been a while since I've felt that emotion over a book. I, as many, have no idea what will be happening in the final book in this series. It's just...I have no idea. I want to know now...but I have no idea. Sometimes you have a small hint or thought of what will happen in the conclusion, but I do not know. At. All WHY ROTH DO YOU DO THIS TO ME?!

If you've made it through this review this far without skipping paragraphs, I'm pretty sure I've established this novel as pure literary art. Roth crafts a novel of suspense, action, betrayal and most of all love set in a world that cannot be compared to any other book, and full to the brim of some real shockers. At the heart of the action, war and corruption are a host of powerful relationships that keeps the narrative addictive. This series has taken up the majority of my reading in February because of its ability of forcing you to need to keep reading on and on about Tris. I haven't read a series this good in a long time which leaves me with one last thought for this frantic, rambling review: Veronica Roth, you are a master of words.

I give it a 5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.co.uk/
Pages: 525
Publisher: HarperCollins
Challenges: None

Related Posts: 
Book 1: Divergent - Veronica Roth

Divergent - Veronica Roth (#1)

In normal Rebecca style, I have literally only just got round to reading this book. I'm not sure why it took me so long because I've always been intrigued and knew it would be a book I would enjoy, especially after seeing the great reviews.
I bought a copy in a Waterstones sale last year when I had a morning gallivanting around town with two friends as the trains were severely delayed. It was only really when I heard the news about the upcoming movie adaptation of this series combined with my friend practically forcing me to read it, that I decided I better read it.

Synopsis: In Beatrice's world, society has been spilt into five factions dedicated to a particular virtue that they believe caused the previous war. There is Candor (honesty), Dauntless (bravery), Erudite (knowledge), Amity (peace) and Abnegation (selflessness). When every girl and boy turns sixteen, they take an aptitude test to test their reactions to certain situations that ultimately determines the faction they belong in. They are then giving the choice to stay within the faction they were born in or transfer, leaving their family behind. For Beatrice, she feels she does not belong in her birth faction of Abnegation and makes a choice that surprises everyone. In the tough, competitive initiation test of Dauntless, Beatrice undergoes physical endurance and simulations that test psychologically, constantly assessing her. Beatrice is different to the others she competes with, she has a secret, she is a type of person in a society where it is extremely dangerous to be that person. The seemingly perfect society is changing, yet no-one knows to what extent.

Review: Sometimes being a book blogger becomes annoying when you love a book so much, you just don't know how to justify it in words. It's just good. 
I know this book has reviewed over and over again since it's release last year so I'm sure what I have to say about why I loved this book has been said all before. I'll try to not just rant, but this is one of the hardest reviews I've had to write since my review for The Fault in Our Stars. I've actually been delaying writing it for about a week now but as I'm dangerous close to the end of Insurgent, I guessed I better get this review written before I get confused.

Just wow. Oh sweet lord, wow. I loved everything. The characters, the amazing, clever, terrifying and great world, the factions, the writing, the plot, THE ACTION. Just...everything.

Beatrice is an interesting character. She lives in a world where she is required to act and behave a certain way, yet has to watch those around her at school act in an opposite way. From starting this novel, it was obvious Beatrice was more of a Dauntless kind of gal rather than Abnegation - the jealousy and superior attitude she has for them comes across the page as she describes some Dauntless-born teenagers in one of the first scenes.
When Beatrice makes a terrifying leap (yes, pun intended if you understand it), she renames herself Tris and becomes a character you just have to love. Stubborn, tough, emotional, empathic and brave - she is well-rounded and I liked that about her. You don't see particularly any characters in YA now that could be described as significantly tough or physically strong yet understands empathy and shows their emotions, and it's that I liked about Tris.

While I'm on the subject of characters, can I just mention FOUR?! OH MY. Okay, I have to admit I wasn't his #1 fan to begin with and if I was going into this novel completely blind, I would not have known that HE would be the love interest. I mean he doesn't seem interested, he's in a superior role to Tris and he's just not that likeable - he's scary. And he's mysterious (which I guess is why all the girls swoon over him) - what you find out about him, I did not see coming at all. BUT OH MY. Something about him just makes you want to just, you know, take him with you everywhere. I think it's the moment when Tris sort of does the conventional 'Oh why didn't I noticed HIM?' that I, as a reader, was like 'HEY FOUR' instead of 'Please don't hurt me Four'. When his relationship with Tris develops and sparks fly, there is something so great about it that made me love the moments of intimacy Roth includes between the pair stuck in the middle of all this chaos. She makes you forget about the other bad events happening and focus on how wonderful this partnership is before throwing you back into the action again. I loved Four and Tris, and to be honest, I loved all the characters in this book - Al (although by the end I was like 'Please go'), Christina, Will (So many tears), Uriah, Marlene, Caleb - they all create a beautiful yet slightly haunting and heart-wrenching novel.

The action. OH MY. I thought The Hunger Games was pretty action packed but DIVERGENT slightly tops it. Unlike The Hunger Games where there's just danger thrown at them constantly, DIVERGENT has lots of action but you're not necessarily always put on edge by it all. The novel contains mostly Tris' experiences as an initiate in Dauntless - learning to fit in and to fight but also trying to get top of the class as her Abnegation blood and small height puts her at a disadvantage. Dauntless as a scary crowd and I don't think I would have chosen them myself, even for Tris' reasons - they have no losers. It's only really the last quarter of DIVERGENT that everything really starts kicking off with some haunting, brilliantly written scenes that had me hesitant to stop reading.
The action is so fast and so thrilling. It is literally just one thing hitting you after another. Sometimes action to this level can get extremely confusing, disorientating or just too much but even though Roth makes you visualise the action so vividly, I was never confused or freaked out by what I was reading. The action makes this book rather epic in a way, never boring and wanting me to keep on reading and reading where ever I was. The ending is just...wow. It is quite something, something beautiful, tragic and superb all at once. It also is a cliffhanger (although not as big as Catching Fire was) but it's also a moment of hope that I wish would carry on into Insurgent - a book I will devour like this one.

I know my words are probably sound completely like they've been thrown together in a hurry but I think it's merely because really there are little words to describe how I felt about this book - it's something that needs to be experienced. The characters were extraordinary, the action sensational, all set in a world that has got to be one of the cleverest yet in dystopian fiction. This is a book of romance and loyalty, bravery and suspense, war and identity that was utterly heartbreaking and uncomfortable to read at times. In a sentence: DIVERGENT was breathtaking.

I give it a 5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.co.uk/
Pages: 487
Publisher: HarperCollins
Challenges: None

Related Reviews: 
Candor by Pam Bachorz
Shadow Web by N.M.Browne
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Breathe by Sarah Crossan
The Declaration by Gemma Malley
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Reached - Ally Condie (#3)

**There may be some spoilers for those that have not read Matched (review) or Crossed (review)**

With dystopian being a genre that I enjoy, this series was one exception that I wasn't crazy about, as many others I think would agree. I found Matched too slow paced and boring and then, Crossed was a tad better but still not as good in my opinion. So in reading Reached, I was literally only doing so to find out what would happen in the end, to satisfy my curiosity about why all the things in the first two books happened.
I wasn't one of those counting down the days until its released, although I was aware after a customer at work pre-ordered it telling me 'it was the best series she'd ever come across' (I'd also like to point out she was wearing a Twilight t-shirt). When I went into my local library and, like the other two books in this series, found this in the Teen section, I decided to pick it up even if I was expecting not to like it at all.

Synopsis: After leaving the Society and going into the Carving to find the Rising, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, in order to make a difference and stop the controlling Society. However, the two of them, and their friend Xander are apart from one another; Cassia is an undercover sorter in Central, Ky a pilot for the Rising with Indie and Xander is a medic, dealing with the increasing sick in the Society. They all wait and wait for the Rising to happen and then one day, all too soon, it begins.

Review: To say the least, I wasn't much at all from this novel. I disliked the last two books in the series so it's fair to say that I didn't think the last book would pick up. On starting this mammoth book, I knew this was going to take a long, long time to struggle through to find out the resolution for Cassia, Ky and Xander.

However, on starting the novel and after the first few chapters, especially when things started kicking off, I was becoming more and more engrossed in the story, I was starting to feel for the main characters and feel myself quicken the pace I was reading because I needed to know what happened in the end. It was a little bewildering really.
But it's true that after the disappointment of Matched and the boring parts of Crossed, that I came out of this series enjoying the last chapter where in my opinion, Ally Condie really picked her game up and writes some thrilling, beautiful stuff.

Differently to the last two books, this novel has alternating chapters from Xander, Cassia and Ky's point of view from their different locations within the Society. I thought this might make the writing confusing and that I wouldn't be able to realise who was narrating in a certain chapter but actually, I have to admit Condie did this incredibly well, keeping the pace and writing going yet not making the narration confusing and giving each character a personal touch. I remembered the cliff-hanger chapters, I knew who was talking from reading the first sentence of the chapter and overall, made reading this book a lovely experience.

In Matched and Crossed, I had a mediocre response to Cassia. I liked her take on life and her narration but her personality just wasn't interesting. In Reached, although I think Cassia is incredibly brave and strong, worthy of being the main protagonist, she still wasn't my favourite narrator. That job came to Xander who I was so pleased to find out had a part in this novel. In the last two books, he comes out as a bit of a background character who appears every so often so it was nice to have Xander the whole way through this book. He is the best character.
Being the male protagonist means that I should like Ky. But in the last two books, I really did not like him. He was annoying, did silly things and at times, did not seem like he cared for Cassia. Also, there was Xander and he was lovely. Yet in Reached, I started to really enjoy Ky as a character partly I think because of his maturation that has progressed in the trilogy. He is very level-headed, sensible really and it is clear he wants to do the best thing for Cassia. I ended up really liking his sensible approach as a character and felt for him when he keeps gaining and losing Cassia throughout. It was nice to end the series liking all the characters, especially Ky compared to in Matched.

Now. The writing and plot. Oh my, this book is epic! I didn't expect the main event to happen so early in the novel and Condie leaves you wondering what is going to happen for the read of the 500 page book which I liked. Although I anticipated the end, the main chuck of the story were totally unexpected as well as the secrets and mysteries revealed in this conclusion to the trilogy. Condie just keeps adding and adding to the drama and intensity of this book until the end to leave with, what I felt, was a satisfying end. The end ties up all the loose ends well and leaves a good picture of life for Cassia, Ky and Xander after closing the book.

The ending was well done although in some issues, I was left a little deflated, like 'Oh that's it?'. As I saw in one Goodreads review, the plot and end of this novel is fast-paced, jumpy and full of tension. Yet it's simple and pretty easy to follow, especially with all the sciencey stuff about The Plague (oh yeah that happens too...). Overall, I surprising enjoyed this book as I hope I've outlined. I understand a lot of readers like me disliked Matched and/or Crossed and are probably dubious about Reached then. My advice? Keep on reading, they only get progressively better throughout the trilogy to a lovely end for Cassia, Ky and of course, Xander. By far the best book in the Matched series.

I give this a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.allysoncondie.com/
Pages: 512
Publisher: Penguin
Challenges: None

Related Posts: 
Book #1: Matched
Book #2: Crossed

Breathe - Sarah Crossan (#1)

It's been a while since I published a review, two weeks at least. But I have been reading constantly throughout that!
When I picked this up in my local library, I had already seen some glowing reviews on the blogosphere. Yet on reading the blurb, thinking it sounded pretty good - something I would like, there was still something nagging in me that I shouldn't read this. Was it because I have a zillion other books of my own to read? Was it that I had banned myself from going to the library so I could read those said books? Was it the books waiting to be read on my Kindle?
Who knows. Anyway, I think it's plain to see I did get this out of the library in the end. This book is new and for bloggers like me, who receive little review copies, I knew this would be one of the only chances to read a book I might end up loving FOREVER. I'm so glad I didn't go with my gut feeling.

Synopsis: Imagine the world living in a plastic bubble with oxygen being pumped in because that is the only way to survive.
Set in the future, this is what Earth has come to. The world is dead, there is little oxygen under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that discovered a way to survive, each city lives in pods, on the outskirts of the devastation and remains of cities. For Quinn, Bea and Alina, this is reality.
When Quinn proposes a camping trip outside the pod, Bea doesn't refuse. She wants to spent some time with Quinn, alone, hoping he will finally notice her. However, at the border, they run into Alina, a secret Resistance member on the run from the government. She is also the one Quinn thinks is his dream girl. The planned trip that Bea imagined is turned upside down as they learn about the secrets Breathe have been hiding.

Review: Despite my hesitated thoughts before starting this book, I actually really enjoyed it. I've read many dystopian series over the years of blogging - some are very good, some not so good, yet this book belongs in the former category.

The aspects of this novel that hooked me was both the characters and the world that Sarah Crossan expertly portrays. The idea behind Breathe is clear and something relevant to today. Although we're not on the verge of a world without trees and oxygen, the whole topic of deforestation, toilet roll companies promising to plant 3 trees for every tree they manufacture - it is all something that is considered and talked about today and that is the idea that gripped me throughout this novel. Outside the pod, the characters within Breathe go through the destruction of a town, which to me sounded a lot like London, especially the frequent mention of The Grove (which is the Arsenal football stadium) which was nice to see.

The characters are all very diverse and interesting and it is them that made the book for me. There is Alina, a lovely, feisty girl who is fighting against Breathe to try and expose them. There is also Bea, a loyal girl from the lower-class Zone 3, eager for Quinn to realise that she likes him much more than a friend. And finally, Quinn himself from Zone 1, the guy who has everything due to his father working for Breathe. He's never had to worry about oxygen, breaking rules or money, although his father is a bit of a creep. He is best friends with Bea, the one he can tell everything to, and on his unexpected meeting with Alina, he falls for her beauty and decides that she is 'the one'. For me, I found Bea the most interesting and the one that learns and develops the most out of the three. My only problem with Quinn is that I felt he could have been developed a little more - he was a little forgettable at the beginning compared to the strong characters of Bea and Alina.

The plotline was littered with surprising (and unsurprising) twists and turns. This is not a novel that you will know the ending before you reach it. There are a number of revelations that I would not have guessed at the beginning and at times I was seriously worried how the characters would get out of certain situations. Crossan certainly keeps you guessing until the final page. My only blunder would be that I felt the story was incredibly interesting and well-written from the beginning until the middle. Then, for me, there was a small section between the middle and end which I lost a little interest, got confused or just didn't enjoy it as much as the initial journey and experiences on the outside.

The ending is something that I think was done considerably well - both leaving a slight cliffhanger yet you also know where/what the characters are about to do. The ending, while sad in some ways, was also quite uplifting despite the destruction throughout the novel (once you have read it, you'll understand what I'm referring to).

The book surprised me to say the least, yet it was a good surprise. I really enjoyed this dystopian and I will definitely be reading the next in the series to find out what happens next to Alina, Bea and Quinn. Although I think Quinn could initially be developed more, I liked his bravery and persistence by the end, the same for Bea and Alina. One of the best dystopians of the year, by far.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.sarahcrossan.com/
Pages: 373
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Challenges: BBC

The next book in the series, RESIST, will be released in Autumn 2013 (TOO LONG TO WAIT)

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins (#3)

**There may be some spoilers if you have not read the first two books in the Hunger Games series - The Hunger Games #1 (review) or Catching Fire #2 (review)**

So I finally read Mockingjay and finished off The Hunger Games series. I was off college ill yesterday so I literally sat in bed all day reading this, I was so hooked. Even by 6pm, I was still reading! I'm kind of sad it's all finished now. Because when I was reading, I literally had NO IDEA what would happen at the end and now I do know, I wish I could read the series all over again like the first time. And I wish I read it slower. Oh well. 

I finished it!

Synopsis: Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

(From Goodreads.com)

Review: Oh my lord (sorry). OH MY GOSH. 

That was my reaction when I closed this book for the last time this morning. Out loud. To an empty house. 

Why such a reaction? THIS BOOK IS JUST...EPIC. That is literally the only word I can describe it as. Epic. So much happens. So much action. So much heartbreak. So much sadness and so many lovely things too. I felt so drained after reading this book, I felt so many things. Thank you, Suzanne Collins. Just, thank YOU. 

So this is probably going to be a fan girly rant. Let's go.

This is how my reading of this book went:

First I started like 'WHAAAT?'. I mean I've read Catching Fire but that was in April! Although I thought I remembered everything that happened in that book, I was totally wrong. At first I didn't know who all these people were etc. Then I re-read the end of Catching Fire AND IT ALL MADE SENSE. 
So Top Tip: re-read Catching Fire or read this soon after Catching Fire to understand what is happening. And also Catching Fire is the best one in the series. Everyone thinks so (okay, everyone being the 10 people that I have asked). 

A large part of the beginning is set in the underground world of District 13 and for some, they may find it a little boring as Katniss adjusts. Looking back now, this did seem to go on for a while but I liked learning about this different place. I mean, it's not exactly like we have read about this setting before. When we started the series, a reader wouldn't know it existed until Book 2. 
Then the action started and I was horrified, disgusted and waving a 'Go Katniss!' sign all at the same time. Readers by now will hate the Capitol, especially after Book 2. But by this point, I was with Katniss the whole way. Talk about empowerment of women...I still can't believe Katniss goes through all this and she's only 17!
So I'm feeling GO KATNISS and BOO SNOW. 
Then, Peeta comes and something so unusual, unexpected and just so surprising happens between Katniss and Peeta that I was just in a state of shock. I actually sat there for a few minutes thinking WHAT JUST HAPPENED. WHAT? WHEN? HOW? 
Nothing seems to be looking up, at all. And at this point, there's like 40% of the book left and I had no idea what to expect. Ever in a million years would I have been able to guess.

Then, this girl called Delly appears who was apparently mentioned in The Hunger Games. Don't remember that part...

Without going into too much detail (sorry for the extreme vagueness), a big event/mission happens that includes Katniss, Gale, Peeta, Finnick amongst others. Now. That was epic. Again, so many unexpected things, twists and turns that left me surprised, upset and relieved in so many ways. 
And then the ending. Well, for me there's kind of two endings. The first, EPIC ending where you're left in shock, surprise and dismay over what just happened. And then the calmer 'epilogue' ending, set 20 years later. In all honesty, the epilogue was disappointing, so disappointing after such a great book and series. The person Katniss chooses, well the 'other' is not mentioned at all. THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE SERIES SINCE BOOK 1 AND YOU DON'T EVEN MENTION THEM? I would have liked to know what the other major characters still alive were doing twenty years on. Were they okay? Did they move on? WHAT HAPPENED?
So yeah. Lovely ending. Just the bit right at the end was severely disappointing. It did feel like Suzanne Collins just wanted this book over, done. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So that's how the whole book went for me overall. It may make sense, it may not. That is literally my thoughts being put into a jumbled mess. 

I have to admit that this book was good. Very good. But I think Catching Fire is slightly better than this. This is an entirely different type of 'Games'. I just felt this book had its best moments in the middle of the book. 

I enjoyed Katniss again as a character. Although I agree with others that she does lose some of her spirit at the beginning of Mockingjay, she sure makes up for it as she realises how much impact she has in Panem. I liked that Gale was more prominent in this book compared to the other two, he came across as a character, before reading Mockingjay, that was kind of 'there' and only a main character because he was Katniss' friend. But in this book, he's more prominent and it was nice to see that. I like Peeta but I wanted some more Gale. 

There is a whole cast of characters featured in this book, which I think is going to be interesting to film for the movie. There are some in it from the beginning, some introduced in Catching Fire and some completely new. Although most of the time I wasn't confused by this host of characters, at the beginning of Mockingjay, I was a little bewildered by the names Katniss mentions, a Dale dropped in here, another name there. I was like 'Who are these people?!' Gladly, the characters you need to know are explained. 

Collins' writing was as engaging as ever and I was hooked most of the way. I was off college ill and I spent the whole day reading this book because I just NEEDED to know what happened in the end, and soon. And that's always great to have when you're feeling down. Collins' is the master of creating twists and turns throughout her novels that leave you so shocked by what just happened. It is a true skill that only some authors I think can do really really well. 

On the subject of the movie, I know this is being made into two films and I can certainly see why. I was a little sceptical when I first heard that but after reading this, there is just too much action and intensity to fit in one film - you would be exhausted after it finished. I think I know where they will finish the first movie but I'm so looking forward to see this come to life on the big screen!

This series is one of the best I have had the pleasure to read and I can't believe it took me SO long to read this series. It really is as good as everything says (and the movie is brilliant too!). For those that have made it through the first two books, definitely read this, for sure. It is a brilliant conclusion and I was not expecting half of what happened. At all. Go, read it!

I give it a 5 out of 5

The adaptation of The Hunger Games (Book 1) is out now. Catching Fire (Book 2) will be out in 2013 and the first instalment of Mockingjay will be out in 2014 with the last instalment being released in 2015. Oh my, so long!

Author's Website: http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/

Pages: 390

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Challenges: None

Related Posts:

Review: The Hunger Games

Review: Catching Fire