Hi Birds!
I'm back again with another monthly roundup. October was not a good reading month for me. I finished only nine books. I had a lot going on, you know how that goes.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black ~ A-
I enjoyed the world of Coldtown. It was different and interesting when so few new YA vampire stories are. The story opens strong and doesn't let up. Gavriel was everything I wanted in a vampire. Ruthless, cool and a little bit crazy. He reminded me a little of Jean-Claude from the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton. I liked that the main character, Tana, is actually the hero of her own story and doesn't depend on Gavriel or anyone else to save her. She's strong enough to determine her own fate. I liked that Black left the end open for sequels.
Mind the Gap by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon ~ B
This was a really unique adult fantasy. The authors give a cool perspective of the London Underground. I loved the idea that a city can have a soul of its own and that it remembers everything that occurred within its boundaries. It had a real Oliver Twist feel to it with the main character Jess being taken in by a bunch of thieves. I thought Jess was kind of a weak character and the plot relied too much on the shock value of multiple deaths. Cadge's connection with Jess felt much stronger than Stevie's. I wanted more of the spirits and less of the unnecessary brutality.
Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich ~ B
I thought this was a satisfying beach read. Unlike with most romances, the main character Holly was complex, mature and relatable. The main male character, on the other hand, was superficial and a bit of an asshole. I enjoyed seeing them grow as people and as a couple. A decent fluffy romance.
Midnight Secretary (vol. 1) by Tomu Ohmi ~ C
This manga got off to a slow start. I didn't like the way the main character felt she had to ugly herself up to get a decent job. Is that really a thing in this day and age? Her boss is a straight up asshole. I don't care that he's an attractive and wealthy vampire. His personality is ugly and that is a real turnoff. The end got a little steamy but I don't think I would pay full price to continue the series.
Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer ~ C+
I usually like Jennifer Crusie because her romances are generally fun and quirky but this one was really not what I was expecting. The romance was a side note to a weird demon-hunting in a theme park storyline. The romances (plural) were too quick to be believable. The book tried to juggle too many things at once. When someone died the characters were just like darn and were over it ten minutes later. It took me way too long get through this book.
Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey ~ B+
Elemental Masters series No. 3. I thought that I had read this book before but about a third of the way through I didn't remember anything that was happening. I really enjoyed it though. The Cinderella retelling worked in this setting. Eleanor and Reggie both experienced a lot of trauma which gave them depth and made me root for them to make it as a couple. Neither was perfect and that's okay. I liked the end and I'm glad the stepmother got what was coming to her.
The Magdalena: Origins by Malachy Coney, Marcia Chen and Joe Benitez ~ D+
This comic's plot was bleh. The only reason it didn't get an F was the artwork.
The Farm by Emily McKay ~ B+
Another solid vampire book. The world was really interesting and well written. I liked that one of the main characters has autism. I've never seen that in a YA fantasy before. I can absolutely see something like the farms happening if there were ever a vampire takeover. The Ticks reminded me of the vampires in The Passage by Justin Cronin. I am a little dubious about Lily's actions. She is rash and takes unnecessary risks with her and Mel's lives. Carter makes a great love interest. The twist at the end was great. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
Cress by Marissa Meyer ~ A-
Lunar Chronicles No. 3. I enjoyed this one more than Scarlet but less than Cinder. The stories were woven together well. I liked Cress. Her innocence and wonder were really inviting. I didn't miss Scarlet at all. That's probably why I didn't like the second book as much. She's just not a dynamic character to me and doesn't add much to the story overall. The adventure in this one was great. Cress and Thorne's trek was entertaining. I like the slow build in their relationship. No insta-love in sight. I'm a dork so I cried when a certain character dies.
Let me know what you thought in the comments below.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Thursday, October 16, 2014
September 2014 Roundup
Hi Birds!
I'm finally back with another roundup. I've been on vacation in Chicago for the last week so it's taken me awhile to get back on the ball. I read 11 books in September for a total of 138 so far this year.
Nightschool vol. 2 & 3 by Svetlana Chmakova ~ B+, A
- I started the month out with the second and third volume in this manga series. I won't say much because it would be spoilery if you haven't read the first volume (look for my review in last month's roundup). Alex and Teacher are both magical badasses. The only drawback is that there are a ton of characters so it's hard to keep their names straight. The action ramps up and each volume is better than the last.
Black Butler vol. 1 by Yana Toboso ~ B+
- I also started the Black Butler manga series. It's basically about a butler who is always saving his employer's ass in one way or another and has some kind of special ability to pull off the impossible. I enjoyed the relationship the Butler has with his master. He really seems to care for the kid even though he doesn't have to and probably shouldn't (for spoilery reasons). I was annoyed by the background characters and the different episodes were kind of incongruous. It'll be interesting to see if all of the volumes are told in this disparate manner or if it was just this first one. Looking forward to finding out more of the back story on these two characters and their unique arrangement.
Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick ~ C-
- This one was a real struggle for me. A girl with a brain tumor goes into the mountains to spread her parents ashes and the apocalypse begins. Super depressing from the word 'go.' It took me forever to get through this book. I thought it could have been a lot shorter. The characters could have been better developed. It felt like the author was trying to constantly one-up herself. Oh, you have inoperable brain cancer and your parents are dead, well here's the apocalypse. This can't possibly get any worse, can it? Sure it can and then proceeds to get more and more depressing. Did I mention this is a series? Yikes.
The Elite and The One by Kiera Cass ~ Both B+
- The Selection series books 2 and 3. I got a little annoyed with the main character America in the second book. She did way too much waffling between the guys. She finally picks Maxon. Like we didn't see that one coming. Both of their actions in this book were irrational but I kept reminding myself that they're just teenagers. I liked the twist with the king and the real background of the country's founder. The third book was a pretty decent end to the series. A lot of people die which is surprising since this is a YA romance series. Some of the deaths are a little puzzling and the main death's were a little bit of a cop-out to wrap the series up easily.
Library Wars: Love & War vol. 1 by Kuro Yumi ~ C-
- Forgettable and boring. The main character is a crappy librarian. She never pays attention in class and all of her reactions are crazy. She didn't even know the layout of the library and was basically just there because she's physically strong. How in the world did she get promoted to such an important squad? I won't be continuing this manga series.
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry ~ C+
- This was was just okay. I had to think a moment about what this book was actually about. It opens strong with a girl about to be murdered who is able to escape but then gets kind of boring while she tries to figure out what happened to her. She's no Nancy Drew. The science plot was alright. Overall just a meh book.
Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate ~ B+
- A quick, easy sci-fi read. Eve has an accident and while she's recovering she uses a program at her mom's facility to create her version of the perfect guy. Shenanigans ensue. Eve's a decent character but my favorite is Solo a guy she meets who works for her mom. He's got drive and smarts and a whole lot of courage.
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang ~ A+
- This was one of the best graphic novels I've ever read. The artwork was simple and colorful but fit the narrative perfectly. The author weaves three different storylines into a great lesson on how to accept and appreciate who you really are. The Monkey King was my favorite character. This was a great story of self-discovery and friendship that I highly recommend.
The Eye of Minds by James Dashner ~ D
-The description made it sound like Ready Player One by Ernest Cline which is one of my favorite books. Not so much for this one. I had to force myself to finish this book. I should've just given up but I enjoyed The Maze Runner by Dashner so I wanted to give it a shot. I just couldn't get into the writing style and the main character seemed so stiff and stilted. Every time he opened his mouth I thought, "A teenager wouldn't say that." It felt too forced and was a huge letdown.
So that's it for September. Let me know if you agree with my reviews in the comments below.
I'm finally back with another roundup. I've been on vacation in Chicago for the last week so it's taken me awhile to get back on the ball. I read 11 books in September for a total of 138 so far this year.
Nightschool vol. 2 & 3 by Svetlana Chmakova ~ B+, A
- I started the month out with the second and third volume in this manga series. I won't say much because it would be spoilery if you haven't read the first volume (look for my review in last month's roundup). Alex and Teacher are both magical badasses. The only drawback is that there are a ton of characters so it's hard to keep their names straight. The action ramps up and each volume is better than the last.
Black Butler vol. 1 by Yana Toboso ~ B+
- I also started the Black Butler manga series. It's basically about a butler who is always saving his employer's ass in one way or another and has some kind of special ability to pull off the impossible. I enjoyed the relationship the Butler has with his master. He really seems to care for the kid even though he doesn't have to and probably shouldn't (for spoilery reasons). I was annoyed by the background characters and the different episodes were kind of incongruous. It'll be interesting to see if all of the volumes are told in this disparate manner or if it was just this first one. Looking forward to finding out more of the back story on these two characters and their unique arrangement.
Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick ~ C-
- This one was a real struggle for me. A girl with a brain tumor goes into the mountains to spread her parents ashes and the apocalypse begins. Super depressing from the word 'go.' It took me forever to get through this book. I thought it could have been a lot shorter. The characters could have been better developed. It felt like the author was trying to constantly one-up herself. Oh, you have inoperable brain cancer and your parents are dead, well here's the apocalypse. This can't possibly get any worse, can it? Sure it can and then proceeds to get more and more depressing. Did I mention this is a series? Yikes.
The Elite and The One by Kiera Cass ~ Both B+
- The Selection series books 2 and 3. I got a little annoyed with the main character America in the second book. She did way too much waffling between the guys. She finally picks Maxon. Like we didn't see that one coming. Both of their actions in this book were irrational but I kept reminding myself that they're just teenagers. I liked the twist with the king and the real background of the country's founder. The third book was a pretty decent end to the series. A lot of people die which is surprising since this is a YA romance series. Some of the deaths are a little puzzling and the main death's were a little bit of a cop-out to wrap the series up easily.
Library Wars: Love & War vol. 1 by Kuro Yumi ~ C-
- Forgettable and boring. The main character is a crappy librarian. She never pays attention in class and all of her reactions are crazy. She didn't even know the layout of the library and was basically just there because she's physically strong. How in the world did she get promoted to such an important squad? I won't be continuing this manga series.
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry ~ C+
- This was was just okay. I had to think a moment about what this book was actually about. It opens strong with a girl about to be murdered who is able to escape but then gets kind of boring while she tries to figure out what happened to her. She's no Nancy Drew. The science plot was alright. Overall just a meh book.
Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate ~ B+
- A quick, easy sci-fi read. Eve has an accident and while she's recovering she uses a program at her mom's facility to create her version of the perfect guy. Shenanigans ensue. Eve's a decent character but my favorite is Solo a guy she meets who works for her mom. He's got drive and smarts and a whole lot of courage.
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang ~ A+
- This was one of the best graphic novels I've ever read. The artwork was simple and colorful but fit the narrative perfectly. The author weaves three different storylines into a great lesson on how to accept and appreciate who you really are. The Monkey King was my favorite character. This was a great story of self-discovery and friendship that I highly recommend.
The Eye of Minds by James Dashner ~ D
-The description made it sound like Ready Player One by Ernest Cline which is one of my favorite books. Not so much for this one. I had to force myself to finish this book. I should've just given up but I enjoyed The Maze Runner by Dashner so I wanted to give it a shot. I just couldn't get into the writing style and the main character seemed so stiff and stilted. Every time he opened his mouth I thought, "A teenager wouldn't say that." It felt too forced and was a huge letdown.
So that's it for September. Let me know if you agree with my reviews in the comments below.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
August 2014 Roundup
Hi Birds!
Just wanted to post a quick roundup of the books I read in August. I read nine books. I've already talked about The 5th Wave and Inside Out so I'll just skip over those.
Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP ~ B+
- This manga reminded me of Sailor Moon because it's about three young school girls with magic powers, special weapons and color-coordinated outfits. Hikaro is my favorite. She's a shorty like me and I love that she meets the adventure head on. The villians were easy to escape which I expected because it's the first volume and they don't know how to fight or use their magic. I enjoyed the artwork. It was excellent.
Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger ~ A-
- This is the second book in the Finishing School series. The first book is Etiquette & Espionage. The main character Saphronia is fun and smart. I love all of the trouble she gets into. She's like a teenage James Bond in petticoats. The world is so playful and quirky. I can't wait for the next book to come out.
The Selection by Kiera Cass ~ A-
- I wasn't really sure I would like this series because of the Bachelor-like plot line but I was pleasantly surprised. I like America. She's feisty and speaks her mind. The prince is a pretty cool dude too. Love triangles are usually a pet peeve of mine in YA fiction but I think it really works in this first book. I'm interested to see who she picks and what happens with the rebels.
Nightschool: The Weirn Books by Svetlana Chmakova ~ B+
- I enjoyed the first volume in this manga series. Alex is a young witch with amazing powers. When her sister is wiped form existence she must infiltrate the Nightschool to figure out who is responsible. There are a lot of secondary characters which was kind of confusing. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of Alex's abilities.
Bone: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith ~ C-
- I had high hopes for this graphic novel but it didn't live up to the hype for me. It wasn't as funny as I was hoping and what I did find funny was juvenile. I don't understand why they're bones either. Does that have anything to do with the story? Fone Bones crush on Thorn was kind of cute. I will not continue this series.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Tucholke ~ C
- I have mixed feelings about the main character but the plot was strong enough to give it a C. Violet has horrible taste in guys. She knows River is a horrible person but she lets him control her. She should have kicked him to the curb fast. The 'real' bad guy Brodie seems to have been added just to take the spotlight off of how crappy River really is. Why would you continue to let this guy, who is a stranger, continue to live with you after you have learned he is a straight-up murderer? I will not continue this series.
Everneath by Brodi Ashton ~ C
- This retelling of the Persephone myth fell flat. The idea was better than the execution. The characters were boring and the story was very slow paced. For someone with only six months left on Earth, Nicki sure takes her sweet time trying to figure things out. The love story was very sappy and slowed the plot even further. I will not continue this series.
LEAVE A COMMENT! Have a suggestion for a good manga series? Let me know in the comments below.
Just wanted to post a quick roundup of the books I read in August. I read nine books. I've already talked about The 5th Wave and Inside Out so I'll just skip over those.
Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP ~ B+
- This manga reminded me of Sailor Moon because it's about three young school girls with magic powers, special weapons and color-coordinated outfits. Hikaro is my favorite. She's a shorty like me and I love that she meets the adventure head on. The villians were easy to escape which I expected because it's the first volume and they don't know how to fight or use their magic. I enjoyed the artwork. It was excellent.
Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger ~ A-
- This is the second book in the Finishing School series. The first book is Etiquette & Espionage. The main character Saphronia is fun and smart. I love all of the trouble she gets into. She's like a teenage James Bond in petticoats. The world is so playful and quirky. I can't wait for the next book to come out.
The Selection by Kiera Cass ~ A-
- I wasn't really sure I would like this series because of the Bachelor-like plot line but I was pleasantly surprised. I like America. She's feisty and speaks her mind. The prince is a pretty cool dude too. Love triangles are usually a pet peeve of mine in YA fiction but I think it really works in this first book. I'm interested to see who she picks and what happens with the rebels.
Nightschool: The Weirn Books by Svetlana Chmakova ~ B+
- I enjoyed the first volume in this manga series. Alex is a young witch with amazing powers. When her sister is wiped form existence she must infiltrate the Nightschool to figure out who is responsible. There are a lot of secondary characters which was kind of confusing. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of Alex's abilities.
Bone: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith ~ C-
- I had high hopes for this graphic novel but it didn't live up to the hype for me. It wasn't as funny as I was hoping and what I did find funny was juvenile. I don't understand why they're bones either. Does that have anything to do with the story? Fone Bones crush on Thorn was kind of cute. I will not continue this series.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Tucholke ~ C
- I have mixed feelings about the main character but the plot was strong enough to give it a C. Violet has horrible taste in guys. She knows River is a horrible person but she lets him control her. She should have kicked him to the curb fast. The 'real' bad guy Brodie seems to have been added just to take the spotlight off of how crappy River really is. Why would you continue to let this guy, who is a stranger, continue to live with you after you have learned he is a straight-up murderer? I will not continue this series.
Everneath by Brodi Ashton ~ C
- This retelling of the Persephone myth fell flat. The idea was better than the execution. The characters were boring and the story was very slow paced. For someone with only six months left on Earth, Nicki sure takes her sweet time trying to figure things out. The love story was very sappy and slowed the plot even further. I will not continue this series.
LEAVE A COMMENT! Have a suggestion for a good manga series? Let me know in the comments below.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Author Interview: Anne Bishop
Hi Birds!
I thought it would be fun to share with you part of an interview my husband, art blogger Brian Sherwin, and I did with my favorite author Anne Bishop a while ago. Bishop is the author of the award-winning Black Jewels trilogy. Check out Anne's website at www.annebishop.com.
Interview
Brian: Anne, your books are known for meshing themes of
sensuality and violence - The Black Jewels series is a perfect example. What do you think attracts readers to these extremes
within the context of your novels?
Anne Bishop: I can’t speak for other people, but sensuality and violence were not an unusual mix in the historical romances I was reading twenty years ago. So for someone who liked fantasy, horror, romance and “women‘s fiction,” putting elements of those genres together to create a violent, sensual, gritty world wasn’t that big of a jump. I think the attraction is being able to take a ride with powerful, dangerous characters in a place that exists only in imagination--the supreme exotic locale. It is writing about the play of human emotions--the joys and triumphs as well as the heartaches and failures--in an otherworldly setting that intrigues me. Perhaps that is the same reason readers are drawn to the stories.
Tonya: What do you think attracts readers to the fantasy genre in general? Why do people need fantasy within their lives?
AB: Fantasy contains boundless possibilities. It contains the delight--and the fear--of things that are Other. In a background where anything can happen, the things we fear can be given tangible form and be defeated (sometimes). We also have a chance to explore the human heart without the constraints, and pain, of the real world. Wonder exists within the boundaries of the genre, and that makes it fun.
She hit the nail on the head with this answer. I love the fantasy genre because it can go in so many directions and touch so many different people. Check out my husband's blog at www.theartedge.faso.com/blog. For the entire interview, click here.
I thought it would be fun to share with you part of an interview my husband, art blogger Brian Sherwin, and I did with my favorite author Anne Bishop a while ago. Bishop is the author of the award-winning Black Jewels trilogy. Check out Anne's website at www.annebishop.com.
Interview
Brian: Anne, your books are known for meshing themes of
sensuality and violence - The Black Jewels series is a perfect example. What do you think attracts readers to these extremes
within the context of your novels? Anne Bishop: I can’t speak for other people, but sensuality and violence were not an unusual mix in the historical romances I was reading twenty years ago. So for someone who liked fantasy, horror, romance and “women‘s fiction,” putting elements of those genres together to create a violent, sensual, gritty world wasn’t that big of a jump. I think the attraction is being able to take a ride with powerful, dangerous characters in a place that exists only in imagination--the supreme exotic locale. It is writing about the play of human emotions--the joys and triumphs as well as the heartaches and failures--in an otherworldly setting that intrigues me. Perhaps that is the same reason readers are drawn to the stories.
Tonya: What do you think attracts readers to the fantasy genre in general? Why do people need fantasy within their lives?
AB: Fantasy contains boundless possibilities. It contains the delight--and the fear--of things that are Other. In a background where anything can happen, the things we fear can be given tangible form and be defeated (sometimes). We also have a chance to explore the human heart without the constraints, and pain, of the real world. Wonder exists within the boundaries of the genre, and that makes it fun.
She hit the nail on the head with this answer. I love the fantasy genre because it can go in so many directions and touch so many different people. Check out my husband's blog at www.theartedge.faso.com/blog. For the entire interview, click here.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Review: Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
Hi Birds!
I love Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder so I always keep my eye out for more of her books. About six months ago I picked up a paperback copy of the second book in the Insider duology, Outside In, at Goodwill for less than $1. I kept hoping to find the first book for cheap too but it never happened (story of my life) so I finally checked it out from the library.
Amazon.com Summary
Keep Your Head Down.
Don't Get Noticed.
Or Else.
I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.
What I Thought - B+
The plot was the strongest part of the novel. The reader starts out with very little information about Inside and its population but what develops is truly awesome. Inside is literally a big box everyone is stuck in and nobody knows why. The lowers are slaves keeping everything from falling apart. It's like a giant maze and the main character, Trella, is the poor mouse scrambling around in the walls trying to get out.
Snyder captured being a teenager pretty well. Trella feels like she's different and she doesn't belong. She is surrounded by thousands of people but still feels like an outsider. She has only one friend and spends most of her time alone inside the pipes. Her friend sucks her into the search for a possible door to outside called Gateway. Nobody knows what it looks like or if it's even real.
I liked the sense of urgency and all of the action elements. Trella was go, go, go all the time and it kept the story exciting. Chomper scares the crap out of me. Who feeds bodies into a giant trash compacter? (oh right, Stephen King does. haha. Check out his short story The Mangler).
The description of Inside made me think they must be in some kind of underground bunker because of a nuclear war or something so I didn't see the twist coming. I can't say anymore about it but it will blow your mind. I am looking forward to finally getting to read Outside In.
Suggestions
Books ~ Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, Under the Dome by Stephen King, Gone by Michael Grant, Across the Universe by Beth Revis
TV ~ Under the Dome
Movies ~ Escape from Alcatraz, The Running Man, Cube, The Mangler, The Mist, The Poseidon Adventure, The Fog, Day of the Dead
COMMENT BELOW! Have you read Inside Out? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.
I love Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder so I always keep my eye out for more of her books. About six months ago I picked up a paperback copy of the second book in the Insider duology, Outside In, at Goodwill for less than $1. I kept hoping to find the first book for cheap too but it never happened (story of my life) so I finally checked it out from the library.
Amazon.com Summary
 |
| MariaVSnyder.com |
Don't Get Noticed.
Or Else.
I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.
What I Thought - B+
The plot was the strongest part of the novel. The reader starts out with very little information about Inside and its population but what develops is truly awesome. Inside is literally a big box everyone is stuck in and nobody knows why. The lowers are slaves keeping everything from falling apart. It's like a giant maze and the main character, Trella, is the poor mouse scrambling around in the walls trying to get out.
Snyder captured being a teenager pretty well. Trella feels like she's different and she doesn't belong. She is surrounded by thousands of people but still feels like an outsider. She has only one friend and spends most of her time alone inside the pipes. Her friend sucks her into the search for a possible door to outside called Gateway. Nobody knows what it looks like or if it's even real.
I liked the sense of urgency and all of the action elements. Trella was go, go, go all the time and it kept the story exciting. Chomper scares the crap out of me. Who feeds bodies into a giant trash compacter? (oh right, Stephen King does. haha. Check out his short story The Mangler).
The description of Inside made me think they must be in some kind of underground bunker because of a nuclear war or something so I didn't see the twist coming. I can't say anymore about it but it will blow your mind. I am looking forward to finally getting to read Outside In.
Suggestions
Books ~ Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, Under the Dome by Stephen King, Gone by Michael Grant, Across the Universe by Beth Revis
TV ~ Under the Dome
Movies ~ Escape from Alcatraz, The Running Man, Cube, The Mangler, The Mist, The Poseidon Adventure, The Fog, Day of the Dead
COMMENT BELOW! Have you read Inside Out? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Hi Birds!
I love me some post-apocalypse/dystopian novels so when I heard about The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey I had to get my hands on it. Fast forward a year and my lazy butt finally checked it out from the library.
Amazon.com Summary
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother Sam--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
What I Thought - A
This was a great example of a YA post-apocalyptic novel. The main character 16-year-old, Cassie Sullivan, is pretty much kick-ass. She's on her own in this world gone completely batsh*t crazy and she survives like a trooper. Under that kind of pressure, most people (myself included) would completely fall apart but Cassie thrives.
I liked that the book switched perspectives between Cassie, Evan, Sam and Cassie's other love interest, Ben. It helped round out the story and kept things exciting.
The waves were an interesting plot mechanic. They helped build a back story and also helped the reader feel the panic and desperation in Cassie's search to find her brother. The 5th wave was especially tricky and demoralizing for the human population. I kind of had an idea in the back of my mind about what the 5th wave was as soon as I saw who was in Ben's group at the base but the full plan was still pretty mind-blowing. The cliff-hanger ending was terrifying and paved the way for the sequel which comes out September 16 and is called The Infinite Sea.
Suggestions
If you have read this book and liked it, or if you're just interested in stuff that's similar, check out:
Books ~ The Passage by Justin Cronin, Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon, Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling, School's Out Forever by Scott Andrews, Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield, Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry, The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
TV ~ Falling Skies, Defiance, Battlestar Galactica, Roswell
Movies ~ the Alien franchise, Independence Day, District 9, The Thing, Mars Attacks!, Invasion of the Body Snatchers
COMMENT BELOW! Let me know if you've read The 5th Wave and what you thought of it!
I love me some post-apocalypse/dystopian novels so when I heard about The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey I had to get my hands on it. Fast forward a year and my lazy butt finally checked it out from the library.
Amazon.com Summary
 |
| RickYancey.com |
Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother Sam--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
What I Thought - A
This was a great example of a YA post-apocalyptic novel. The main character 16-year-old, Cassie Sullivan, is pretty much kick-ass. She's on her own in this world gone completely batsh*t crazy and she survives like a trooper. Under that kind of pressure, most people (myself included) would completely fall apart but Cassie thrives.
I liked that the book switched perspectives between Cassie, Evan, Sam and Cassie's other love interest, Ben. It helped round out the story and kept things exciting.
The waves were an interesting plot mechanic. They helped build a back story and also helped the reader feel the panic and desperation in Cassie's search to find her brother. The 5th wave was especially tricky and demoralizing for the human population. I kind of had an idea in the back of my mind about what the 5th wave was as soon as I saw who was in Ben's group at the base but the full plan was still pretty mind-blowing. The cliff-hanger ending was terrifying and paved the way for the sequel which comes out September 16 and is called The Infinite Sea.
Suggestions
If you have read this book and liked it, or if you're just interested in stuff that's similar, check out:
Books ~ The Passage by Justin Cronin, Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon, Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling, School's Out Forever by Scott Andrews, Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield, Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry, The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
TV ~ Falling Skies, Defiance, Battlestar Galactica, Roswell
Movies ~ the Alien franchise, Independence Day, District 9, The Thing, Mars Attacks!, Invasion of the Body Snatchers
COMMENT BELOW! Let me know if you've read The 5th Wave and what you thought of it!
Thursday, August 28, 2014
In The Beginning
Hi Birds!
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| AnneBishop.com |
This is my first post ever on this new blog. I'm super excited about having a place to express my thoughts on everything I love, especially books.
I adore most genres but fantasy, romance and mystery are especially my
jam. Some people can't name just one book as their favorite but not me. Mine is Queen of the Darkness which is the third book in
the Black Jewels trilogy by Anne Bishop. I read the entire trilogy plus
the prequel The Invisible Ring every year. I laugh, I cry, I recommend
them to everyone. Please, check out Ms. Bishop's website annebishop.com.
Perhaps I should tell you a little about myself. I enjoy reading (duh), thrifting, writing and watching movies and tv (RuPaul's Drag Race anybody?). I've been married to my best friend for two years this September. We just moved to a smallish city in the Midwest. I have a degree in English Literature from a liberal arts college and I have worked as a newspaper page designer for the past eight years. I love looking at reading, thrifting and home design blogs and watching Booktube videos. I hope to begin a Youtube channel soon!
I'm so pumped to be starting this adventure. I hope you enjoy the blog and would love to hear your thoughts. Please, leave a comment below!
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