So fun. That's the prevailing thought in my mind. Just like the first book, this story is filled with sci-fi and nerdy goodness, 80's pop cul3.5 stars
So fun. That's the prevailing thought in my mind. Just like the first book, this story is filled with sci-fi and nerdy goodness, 80's pop culture references, and another scavenger hunt quest. The audio is also narrated by Wil Wheaton again, whose voice and personality perfectly match this series.
I'll admit, I was a bit nervous when I first heard this book was coming, because the first novel was in my mind a perfect standalone. It didn't need a sequel. There were no loose threads, no cliffhangers, the story had reached its end.
So did this feel like a cash grab due to the popularity of the first book? Maybe a little.
And did it meet those mixed expectations? Kind of.
While Wade reached a happy ending in the first book, it unraveled in the first couple of chapters of this book. He and Samantha only had a few weeks of blissful happiness until they reached some fundamental disagreements and split up. However, it won't surprise you, knowing how obsessed he was with her in the first book, that he's not really over her. And that leads to some predictable turns of events in the story. Good news is I don't think any of us primarily read this series expecting shippy romance.
What I do like is that the sci-fi aspects of the OASIS definitely level up in this book. There's new technology in the mix and what I love about it is not only imagining the possibilities for gaming and virtual reality but also the implications of it on society and human understanding. Cline does this outstandingly, and that makes this feel less cash grabby than maybe I feared. He definitely did something new and further developed the world he created. It's not super formulaic.
But there is another scavenger hunt. And that... is kind of formulaic. I went back and forth about this for a while because it felt like a repetition, but by the end it made sense. Because it's built into the quirky and autistic personality of Halliday. Of course he would make another scavenger hunt. It's what he knows. And it came together well in the end.
So some parts felt a little forced. Some of the high stakes felt a little over the top. But overall, I still enjoyed this story. I love the 80's pop culture, the D&D references, the action-adventure story, and above all, Wil Wheaton's narrations....more
That was very, very cool. My first time reading Marie Lu is undoubtedly a success, even if it took me a shockingly long time to finish the book4 stars
That was very, very cool. My first time reading Marie Lu is undoubtedly a success, even if it took me a shockingly long time to finish the book. That's just my personal life getting in the way. But I didn't for a second consider giving up on this book because I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I got to spend reading it.
Warcross is just catnip for female gamers. It's like Ready Player One with its virtual/augmented reality aspects, but it adds an even stronger gaming, competition element with its Olympics-style tournament.
I really enjoyed getting to know the world and the technology. Emika isn't a character I immediately identify with, but it was pleasant reading from her point of view. The romance was not really necessary and kind of random. Some of the coding stuff didn't really make sense. But the story is seriously compelling. There were a couple twists I expected, and one I honestly didn't. And that makes me really curious to continue the story and find out where it goes next.
Honestly, this is the kind of vivid, action-packed sci-fi story that would make for an epic, epic movie....more
I'll admit that I started Stitching Snow with some trepidation - most of my friends that had read it had given it 3 stars max. But lo and beh4.5 stars
I'll admit that I started Stitching Snow with some trepidation - most of my friends that had read it had given it 3 stars max. But lo and behold, in a strange twist of fate, I'm a positive black sheep, because I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK. It was creative, fun, sci-fi-tastic, and a well-executed stand alone debut novel.
The first thing that got me on the "this-book-is-awesome" bus was our main character, Essie. I hadn't read the book's premise in a while, so the exact nature of her identity was somewhat of a mystery to me - and that worked really well to keep me intrigued. The book starts off that she's in a cage fight with miner guys, which she just does every once in a while to score some extra cash. Um, that's so bad ass and awesome. She's also a tech wiz, with great hacking and engineering skills - the latter of which she uses to build/modify seven more or less autonomous drones (which, if you didn't get, would be the dwarves). The drones are so cute, guys. They each have their own personalities, and Dimwit is absolutely adorable and super fun to tease. And it was just so sci-fi and awesome.
[image]
Essie is a bit dry and sarcastic at times, which I can definitely appreciate, and she's keeping quite a few secrets, so she's majorly suspicious of others. She doesn't really let people get close to her - emotionally and physically - which almost reaches compulsive levels but makes total sense when you later understand her backstory. I just felt her character was really well constructed. Though she's a fighter, she's not the strongest, and she works hard for what she can achieve. And though she keeps a brave face, she has emotional vulnerabilities because of her past that sometimes she just can't hold back. It made her really real to me, and I sympathized with her a loooooot.
Cue the ever so cute Dane. How much do I love this ship? A heck of a lot. It was not instalove at all. In fact, they start off suspicious of each other, which grows to open disdain, but then... THEN... you know. Things happen. The romance wasn't the main focus of the story at all - which I loved, because hello, they had a solar system to save - so the development maybe wasn't as thorough as I would have wanted, but all the little moments between them stole my heart anyway. I mean, Essie naively wondering why she didn't punch him after he kissed her? So many giggles. And Dane is so lovely and patient and protective - the "princess and her guard" vibe worked perfectly for me. The ending was particularly excellent. (view spoiler)[How much do I freaking love that SHE is the one who kissed HIM to wake him up? PERFECTION. CRUSH THOSE GENDER ROLES YES YES YES. (hide spoiler)] OH MY FEELS. They are the sweetest, and for them alone I would almost want a sequel.
[image]
I also thought the world building was really cool. I loved that we got to see different planets with different climates and different cultures. I loved the sci-fi tech - THOSE FREAKING DRONES - and having such a techy main character. There was even a bit of magic, as well, in the "Transitioning" power that the Exiles hold, where they can transport themselves into the minds of others. It was a cool power, though a bit underdeveloped, but mostly functioned well to set up the societal issues. I loved the set up of this dystopian-esque regime. It was a bit confusing at first, because in the first half it was hard to understand what exactly was going on and how that government was operating, but it really came together in the end. There is some creepy dystopian shit going on here, and it was fantastic to read about. The ties to Snow White are subtle and wonderfully incorporated, showing respect for the source material, but creatively twisting it into an entirely new story.
I felt the plot was really strong as well. It had a great mix of action, mystery, courtly intrigue, adventure, and romance. I was thrilled with the action-packed fights, completely enthralled with the politics of this corrupt world, curious about the characters' backstories, and greatly amused by the subtle humorous moments. Many people will want to compare this to The Lunar Chronicles and... I guess it's fair, but I wouldn't dare say that I find this worse than that incredible series. I think it's on par, and it is significantly different. If you nitpick, I'm sure you can find plenty of parallels, but when the source material is the same, I don't really feel like doing that. I felt it was really well executed, especially for a stand alone sci-fi novel with a definite dystopian angle. Though parts may have felt a bit rushed, everything tied up nicely and rather realistically as well.
Summing Up:
I'm happy to say that I freaking lovedStitching Snow. I thought it was a really creative sci-fi take on Snow White, with impress worldbuilding, fun characters, and an exciting plot that definitely kept me turning the pages. Ultimately, because it's a standalone, I do feel like some elements of the story don't have the full emotional effect they might have had, had there been more room to expand, but I don't really mind that in the long run. Here's an excellently constructed stand alone sci-fi fairytale retelling that I think is definitely worth your time.
First read: May 2014 Second read: August-October 2017, still love it :) Third read: January 2021, still awesome
4.5 stars
At the beginning of the year, I First read: May 2014 Second read: August-October 2017, still love it :) Third read: January 2021, still awesome
4.5 stars
At the beginning of the year, I made it one of my resolutions for 2014 to give audiobooks a shot. After discovering that Ready Player One - which I'd already heard plenty of GREAT things about - was narrated by Wil Freaking Wheaton, I decided this would be a great place for me to start. And it was. Great story + great performance = hours of great entertainment.
Ready Player One has been raved about, and for good reason. This book will appeal to anyone who enjoys gaming and 80's pop culture. Basically, it tells the story of Wade Watts, a teenage boy, who participates in a scavenger hunt set up by the late creator of OASIS - a virtual reality game, which became so popular that most people live and breathe in that world instead of the real one. The billionaire creator, Halliday, died, but in his will he stated that he hid "Easter eggs" in the game, and the person who can solve his puzzles will inherit everything. People have been hunting down the Easter eggs for years - to no avail - making a study of the creator's life and his obsessions, which mostly focus on '80s pop culture. There's just so much geeky fun here - for gamers and lovers of the '80s.
The geekery is what made Wil Wheaton's performance absolutely perfect. Anyone who knows of him will know of his great geeky personality, and as such, his voice fit Wade absolutely perfectly. But not only that - he has a great range of vocal inflection that makes the story super entertaining. He made the audiobook completely addictive to listen to, and I'm sad that he hasn't done more of these, because I WANT THEM.
But anyway, the world building here is completely amazing. I am such a fan of virtual reality type stories, but none have done it as well as Ready Player One. It's really everything you'd imagine virtual reality to be - and the way there's magic and technology in those worlds, leveling up and battling akin to an MMORPG, different planets based on different themes (i.e. Star Wars, Star Trek, Dungeons and Dragons) - it's immerse, engaging, and presented in glorious detail. But the book also perfectly captures the societal aspect of having such virtual reality software: the real world has basically become completely run down, people choose OASIS over reality, schools are now attended online, people don't even really have to leave their houses anymore, and corporations are getting vicious over the hunt for the Easter eggs. The concept is really thorough, detailed, and well thought out - I absolutely loved it.
I dunno about you guys, but I'm a super fan of scavenger hunt type stories, so from page one, I was totally engaged. The story was excellent, and I loved following Wade as he pieced together clues, while also strategizing on how best to move forward with potential allies. The story even takes some turns to the dramatic, as they face the IOI corporation, who with their underhanded tactics pose a serious threat to them in real life. The latter half of the story suddenly became thrillingly action-packed, and I was on the edge of my seat. The only downside, really, to this story was that I feel like so much detail was put into the world and the story that the characters themselves were not as interesting.
Summing Up:
This is the virtual reality story that I was absolutely desperate for. I don't think anyone could top Ernest Cline's world building for this premise - it was just absolutely glorious. With tons of geeky references, '80s pop culture, and Wil Wheaton's glorious voice, this story delivered hours of entertainment and giggles. Would I trade OASIS for the real world? Probably yes. Great for geeks, gamers, sci-fi nerds, and adventure fans! And I would definitely suggest this as a great audiobook for anyone wanting to try out the format for the first time.
GIF it to me straight!
[image]
Recommended To:
Geeks, gamers, and fans of the '80s, dystopias, and science fiction....more
Every once in a while, a book comes along with a synopsis and a cover which convince you, no matter what, you will love that book. You don't ne5 stars
Every once in a while, a book comes along with a synopsis and a cover which convince you, no matter what, you will love that book. You don't need to read any reviews or reactions, you just know. It doesn't happen too often. I believe the last time I had it, it was with Stormdancer. But then, along came All Our Yesterdays. I just knew it. However, with previous reads that I had high hopes for ultimately letting me down, I was still nervous about it. But that was unwarranted for All Our Yesterdays. Make no mistake, I love this book.
I'm kind of in love with the time travel concept, so that is what instantly drew me in. It's so well executed that it's hard to do it justice with this review. Time travel is a delicate concept because... how do you tackle it? How do you deal with the paradoxes? Cristin Terrill had no problem with it. She is a master storyteller and the intricate beauty of this story puts this book on my favorites list and her next books on my to-read list as well.
I think what draws me to time travel and parallel universe stories is that it all comes down to the choices we make and their implications. But what All Our Yesterdays does so well is that it uses that to create very complex characters. Let it be known now, I love me a complex villain. Seriously. You give me a book where the villain can show that certain motivations or principles are driving his actions, that there's a logic to it, that it could be perceived as "right", and I will love that book. And that book, in this case, is All Our Yesterdays. The villain is scary and creepy and wrong. But you see his development to that point as well. You see what drives him. You see that he truly believes he's doing good. You almost sympathize with him. But it's also wrong. God, I just love the complexity. It really makes you think.
The other characters, the main characters, Finn and Em, also drew me in. I not only love their personalities, with Em being fiercely loyal and determined and Finn being strong but also very funny, but I love the character development. The story alternates between Marina and Em, Marina from four years in the future, in Marina's present. What Cristin Terrill does really well is show two personalities for the two points of view that are in essence still the same person (and the narration does read as such) but where one, Em, has been weathered by time and become much more mature due to the hardships she has faced. It reads seamlessly and beautifully and is very skillfully done. As the story progresses, you gradually see how both main characters and the villain ultimately become their future selves, which means top notch character development.
As with most young adult novels, there is romance involved here. However, the story is mostly driven by action and the romance doesn't overshadow that. But the romance, guys... Finn and Em... they steal my heart. It began with her, as Marina, her younger self, calling him "the idiot". I was sold. You'll probably know I love me a love-hate relationship, and this is no exception. It was beautiful, both in the younger Marina, who gradually sees more sides of Finn and begins to dislike him less, and the older Em, who loves Finn and can count on him to support her, always. And Finn is just awesome aside from all that because of his amazing ability to always be able to lighten the mood but still be serious when necessary. I love Finn so much, guys, I should just stop now before this becomes a total gush fest. Just one thing: soul mates. Yep.
The ending was freaking intense. Though all the rest of the book is also filled with the kind of action that had me furiously turning the pages and loathing having to put the book down, the ending blew my mind. I was on the edge of my seat. I was gasping. I was crying. It was just amazing. And at the end, when you think it's all tied up one way, and it kind of makes you sad, but it works, it still twists another way and asdfjkl; I can't. This is such an intense story... It's seized my heart. I loved it. A perfect ending, which can be read as a stand alone, but still makes me extremely happy there will be a sequel.
Summing Up:
I don't often cry over books (tweeting "I'M CRYING" is seldom serious with me) but All Our Yesterdays definitely got me to shed a tear. I was completely absorbed by the characters, by the concept, by the action, by the romance... I didn't want to put the book down for a second and anxiously watched the page numbers increase, knowing there was less and less left and dreading it coming to an end. However, that ending was intense and perfect, and I can't think of a negative thing to say (because "I want moreeeee; why is it overrrrr?" doesn't count). This is one of my all-time favorite books and an extremely powerful debut by Cristin Terrill. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
GIF it to me straight!
Overall: [image] Two smiley Doctors, Time Lord approved!
Me, over the course of this novel: [image] [image] [image] Emotional rollercoaster.
The last 40 pages: [image]
[image]
It's a good thing I don't have a boyfriend because...
[image]
To Cristin Terrill: [image] Serious props.
Recommended To...
EVERYONE. Just everyone.
**An electronic ARC was provided by JKS Communications for the blog tour, in exchange for an honest review. This, believe it or not, did not influence my opinion. Thank you!...more
Ever since I first read Cinder, almost three years ago, I knew that this series would likely be one of my all-time favorites. Now here we are4.5 stars
Ever since I first read Cinder, almost three years ago, I knew that this series would likely be one of my all-time favorites. Now here we are. The end of the road. And I was not wrong.
At a whopping 824 pages, your first thought upon opening Winter may rightfully be, "Holy crap this book is massive." That size is daunting to most readers - especially to me. But it's a testament to Meyer's skill as a writer that the story never truly drags and no moment ever feels unnecessary. Every book introduces two additional main characters - so by Winter, with Winter and Jacin added to the mix, we're up to a whopping 8! Obviously they're not going to be together all the time, each character and romance needs its own development, and there are a lot of loose ends to tie up. But believe me when I say that Meyer manages all that and more.
What really impressed me is that even though Winter and Jacin enter the story so late in the game, their storyline is no less important. In fact, by the end of the book, they rose to number 2 on my ship list because of the heartfelt emotions, the lovely banter, and the genuine bond between the two. I loved finding out about their history and their unique dynamic - and that's saying a lot, because getting to know all that did mean that the story wasn't always moving forward to its long-awaited climax. But they were lovely complex characters, and Winter's voice was just DELIGHTFUL, while Jacin's dry wit made me giggle for hours.
Fine, fine, I started talking about ships, so I might as well continue on with that train of thought, right? Cress and Throne still dominate my heart. Honestly. There was some drama there but still - their relationship is so real and genuine... I loved that Thorne was now the one whose emotions were more apparent - and when he got all flustered, I got all flustered. And a certain scene in a certain place during a certain revolution ABSOLUTELY SLAYED ME. They are so perf, I can't even. Cinder and Kai are third on the list - they fit really well together and compliment each other, but I don't have the intense butterflies that I do with the others. And Scarlet and Wolf come in at a respectable fourth place - because even though I would rank them last, believe me when I tell you that I genuinely like ALL of these ships. And that usually never happens.
I will admit that the pacing is a tiny bit jolted at times because Cinder's plans seem straight forward but constantly run into roadblocks - so while you think the climax is gonna happen any second, it takes a while to get there. But Meyer uses all that time to work on developing the world, the politics, the characters, and their relationships. Above all, her writing style is so fluid that it's not hard at all to just get engrossed in the story and lose all track of time. 800 pages have never been digested quite so easily or quickly.
Do you want action? Winter's got action. This book is all about finally taking the rebellion to the queen. And with the added world building to show the horrible class divide and abhorrent living conditions for most of the Lunar population, this rebellion feels so much like the absolute best dystopias. The stakes are high as well, and like in Scarlet, there is quite a gore factor. In fact, with the even more suped-up wolfish soldiers, the gore is about ten times worse. But this time I didn't mind it as much. It all just reinforced the high stakes and made the climax an absolutely heart-stopping read.
But possibly what I love most about Winter is that even though it's based upon multiple fairy tales, it does not deliver the cookie cutter happy ending. That's not to say that you should fear SINISTER THINGS, but I just really really love where the story left off. It definitely retained a sense of originality. I would also never say no to more. Because seriously. I love this world and these characters more than you can possibly imagine.
Summing Up:
It seems like the end of an era, because The Lunar Chronicles was one of the first series I discovered as a book blogger and I have marked every individual book as a favorite along the way. This is a series I will happily return to time and again. Meyer's writing style is fluid and engrossing. Her characters and romances are absolutely wonderfully developed. Her brand of sci-fi is refreshing and exciting. Her storytelling is exquisitely detailed and executed. I'm so happy that these books exist. So, so, so happy.
First read: December 2013 Second read: December 2015 - and omg Cress and Thorne and all of the shippy feels ♥
5 stars
Before Cress, I was already listingFirst read: December 2013 Second read: December 2015 - and omg Cress and Thorne and all of the shippy feels ♥
5 stars
Before Cress, I was already listing The Lunar Chronicles as one of my favorite series at the moment. But Cress freaking cemented it as one of my all-time favorite series. This book. THIS BOOK. With its 560 pages. It was amazing and addictive, and by far the best of the series so far.
Cress has to be pretty much my favorite character. Right from the first chapter, I was in love with her. She reminded me a lot of Clara, as Oswin, in the Asylum of the Daleks, the first episode of series 7 of Doctor Who. Nope, I can't pass up a Doctor Who reference opportunity. Sorry not sorry.
[image]
In this case, there's a good reason, okay?
So Cress is stuck in this satellite, can't do anything, but finds quirky ways to amuse herself and tries to make a difference and help others with her kickass computer hacking skills, despite her limitations. She was just adorable. Though she is seriously lonely, she tries to bury that. So while Cress wasn't the fierce, kickass female character, I absolutely love her - probably more than I love Cinder and Scarlet. She may not have been as quirky and outspoken as Clara, but she stole my heart anyway because she was way too adorbs.
I also really love her and Thorne. I ship it. I ship it hard. It is my favorite ship of the series. From the first chapters, where she has her child-like idolizing crush on him, to where they meet and she tries to convince him of his goodness, to all the times he looks out for her, to that moment in that battle... Oh my gosh. It was absolutely freaking perfect. And, without a doubt, their chapters together were my favorites.
However, I must confess, I ship all the ships in this series. Cinder and Kai, the struggles they go through, with the doubts they have about each other, it was absolutely endearing. I even found myself shipping Scarlet and Wolf this time around. While I was not a fan of them in Scarlet, the plot here definitely works in the ship's favor. I was surprised at how many Wolf feels I had, but I dare you to try to ignore his pain. I can even already tell that I'm going to fall hard for Winter's ship. It's unusual for me to actually be an active fan of so many canon ships, but this shows how great Marissa Meyer builds up different relationships (and they are, indeed, all very different). Each relationship really had this irresistible fairy tale romance quality. I couldn't fight it, even if I wanted to, which I definitely did not.
There's more to this story than the romance though. The plot packs a punch. At 560 pages, this is the longest book I read this year. Seriously. But it didn't feel that long at all. It was just addictive. I needed more, more, more. I wasn't too familiar with the Rapunzel fairy tale, so what happened with Thorne... So many feelings! I just loved the personal struggles, the world, the action, the politics - seriously, hooray for those chapters from Kai's POV. And Dr. Erland! asdfjkl; Even the secondary characters are done justice. I just loved everything about this book. I was so anxious when the group was separated and seriously pleased when they were united again and kicking butt like a team. It's a rich cast of characters who I just love to see in action together. I really loved the different characters, because I do feel like they're all very different, but also very likable. I think Cress really helped with that because each character goes through a different plot and struggle, and I had no difficulty telling the POVs apart. It was just plain wonderful.
Summing Up:
I don't know what else to tell you, guys. If this book is not on your "most anticipated in 2014" list, you need to fix that. If you're not reading this series... I don't really know what to say to you. This is absolutely fantastic: great characters, wonderful world building, engrossing writing, plenty of feels, and ships that are setting sail. I need Winter. I'm almost upset that I got to borrow an ARC of Cress because that means I need to wait more than a year for Winter. Except not really. Borrowing this ARC is one of the highlights of the year. And this book is definitely one of my favorites of the year.
GIF it to me straight!
[image]
Recommended To:
Everyone. Come on already. You did get that message, right?...more
Kasie West does it again! Oh my god, guys, I am so happy. I want to dance around and throw confetti in the air, because obviously I've official5 stars
Kasie West does it again! Oh my god, guys, I am so happy. I want to dance around and throw confetti in the air, because obviously I've officially found my author soul mate. This is Kasie's third book, and just like the other two, it gets 5 stars from me. I mean, there's auto-buy authors, and then there's please-can-I-stalk-you-and-maybe-marry-you authors, and that's kind of what Kasie West is becoming to me. *cough* Okay. Calm down, Debby. Cool it.
Split Second picks up right where Pivot Point left off, which, if you read the first one, you know was a pretty painful and heartbreaking cliffhanger. It took no time at all for me to be swept up in this book again. This time, there's no alternating timelines, but alternating perspectives between Addie and her awesome, too cool for words BFF Laila. Though this means that we see less of Addie and perhaps her personality doesn't shine through as well as it did in the first book, the addition of Laila is absolutely awesome. She's feisty and daring, and her love for Addie is so beautiful. Those two. BFFs guys. *cries*
I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning because obviously I couldn't wait to see Addie and Trevor reunited. How would it happen? How would they find each other again? The two still have such an amazing bond, and Trevor is seriously dreamy. I liked how the consequences of the first book played out. It was engrossing to read about and just... yes. It worked. It made sense. I love every bit of it.
And aside from the beauteous relationship between Addie and Trevor, this book gave us perhaps my favorite Kasie West ship yet: Laila and Connor. Oh my god guys. It's like Kasie writes romance just for me, because every single one of her couples gives me insane shippy feels. This one struck me in the first encounter. It's hate to love guys. HATE TO LOVE ROMANCE. *flails* They have such a good banter going on and are continuously having a battle of wit while secretly and unknowingly flirting. I was so invested in their relationship. Oh my god. It was just perfect. Perfect. No. Words.
But aside from the awesome ships and how Kasie West crafts the most awesome, human and relatable characters ever, the plot also packs a punch. This book is not only about Addie getting her memories back and being reunited with Trevor - as per Pivot Point there's something else happening beneath the surface. There was a subtle feeling of suspense the built up until the end of the novel. Something strange is happening to Addie's abilities, and she faces growing suspicion from the perhaps not so trustworthy Compound. While it wasn't as shocking or heartbreaking a mystery as in Pivot Point, it was incredibly interesting and engrossing.
The ending left me seriously satisfied. I was just so happy. I can't even really remember the last time I was this satisfied with a conclusion to a series. Addie's story is clearly wrapped up neatly here, and it was all kinds of adorbs. I love Laila's ending too, though there's some bittersweetness. I can tell that Kasie perhaps purposefully left the door open just a tad for a potential sequel, but at the same time, it really is an awesome conclusion, and it can stand on its own. In any case, it just worked.
Summing Up:
Kasie West gets me. She hits me straight in the feels every time. She just writes the most wonderful characters, emotions, and romance. I have hearts in my eyes right now, I can't even control myself. But while concentrating on all this loveliness, she doesn't let the plot or worldbuilding go by the wayside. Pivot Point is one of my favorite series ever, because it's just such a well-rounded, awesome series. Prepare to be reread multiple times, lovelies, and should there ever be a spin-off or continuation, I will be first in line to buy it.
GIF it to me straight!
[image]
Recommended To:
Obviously everyone. If you haven't read this series, I cannot recommend it enough....more
Parallel is an absorbing, touching, and heartfelt read that completely surprised me. It may have some issues that keep it from being perfect, b4 stars
Parallel is an absorbing, touching, and heartfelt read that completely surprised me. It may have some issues that keep it from being perfect, but for me the enjoyment factor was through the roof.
The main character, Abby, is an example of a flawed, sometimes dumb, sometimes fickle main character that works. I may have questioned her at times (I mean, who is so stupid that they're going to walk through a construction site barefoot? That was bound to go wrong.) but minor issues aside, her character felt very real to me. The flaws she has, the stupid things she does, they feel very high school, and I was sort of transported back to those days in my life. I did stupid shit as well, but I grew from it, and I feel like you could see that in subtle ways in Abby as well. She may not have been the most likable character (especially if you're a fan of those super strong, independent female characters) but I felt it was a very honest depiction of a high school senior/college freshman.
The romance was heartfelt, touching, one of the better ones I've read in a while. It really took me back to my high school days and my stupid obsessive crushes. It was adorable in that way. But the ultimate message of the romance is one of fate and soulmates. There is a danger to treading that path: you can either get really sappy or cliché, or you can throw believability totally out the window. Neither was an issue here, in my mind. The idea of parallel worlds with a shared sense of destiny and soulmates just works. It plays into the hopeless romantic in me but it didn't really feel predictable or cliché. It just worked. It was meant to be that way. I finished the book with this insane smile because the ending was just so perfect for the story, and it really made me feel that happy. It almost made me a bit sad that this is a stand alone and I don't get to have any more.
So yes, this story is very much romance-centric. I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea. Parallel worlds does indicate a sort of science fiction story, but it felt much more like a contemporary romance. It having been weeks since I read the blurb, I had no expectations, so maybe that helped. The parallel worlds idea itself was perhaps not the best developed. The science involved was very dubious and at times opened the story up to plot holes, but I ignored it for the enjoyment factor, and the ending made that worth it for sure. So if you're turned off by questionable science, you may want to steer clear here, but if you're a fan of touching romance, definitely give it a go.
Overall, a lot of the themes of the book just had an infectious feel good vibe. Aside from the soulmates in terms of love, which plays on the hopeless romantic in me, the story also goes that way for friendships. The friendship between Abby and her best friend Caitlin is so true and deep, that they are also soulmates in that way. It was touching to see that, though they have their issues and arguments, they're always there for each other. Oh god, is that a tear in my eye? And as for the idea of destiny, while that holds the inherent danger of striding into deeply religious talk, it did not go that way. It worked with the idea parallel worlds - that some things are fixed, though the paths to get there may be different. Maybe I've been watching too much Doctor Who (*cough* yes I have) but I totally loved that idea. And it didn't feel religious, cliché, or exasperating. It just worked.
Summing Up:
I didn't expect to enjoy this anywhere near how much I actually did. Low expectations may have helped there, a bit. It's not a flawless book, but man was I totally absorbed by the story. For once in my life, I wish there was a sequel, and I'm sad that there won't be. If you're ever in need of a feel-good book or in a hopeless romantic mood, I'd say, give it a shot!
And for god's sake, publishers: give me more parallel universe books! After Pivot Point and this, it's turning out to be one of my favorite concepts.
Recommended To:
Fans of contemporary romance.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review....more
I really enjoyed reading Ruby Red. It was entertaining, fun, rather unique... but ultimately? Too short. I wasn't ready for the adventure to en4 stars
I really enjoyed reading Ruby Red. It was entertaining, fun, rather unique... but ultimately? Too short. I wasn't ready for the adventure to end. So maybe the biggest problem with Ruby Red is that I want to move on to the sequel right away. You know. If you can call that a problem.
I love this concept. Time travel is carried in genes and uncontrolled by nature. So Gwen just randomly gets sucked into the past for a half hour and then goes back. I love it so much. This is actually my first time travel novel, though, so perhaps I'm easily impressed. But I liked how this was tied to a prophecy and a mysterious secret society, bound by strict time travel rules... it's just so interesting, I kept reading until I was done. I couldn't stop myself. So compulsively readable? Check.
Gwen as a main character rather impressed me. She's not really the strong female character, but she's so realistic, and I loved that. I mean, she's been kept in the dark about the ins and outs of time travel and the prophecy all her life and then out of nowhere gets sucked into the past. Her shock, fears, and disbelief are really understandable and make her quite the endearing character. She also shows she can be brave when it's necessary, and I'm excited about the small ways in which her character already grew in this novel and will likely keep doing so in the rest of the series. I loved her sass as well.
I have a new book boyfriend and his name is Gideon. I just love him. He totally pulls the cocky, arrogant attitude off at the beginning, but as he travels with Gwen, he sees that he needs to be more supportive of her. And he totally pulls that off as well. He can be so freaking sweet.
I'm a bit on the fence about the romance to be honest. I absolutely loved it at the beginning, because it was clearly a love-hate relationship. I giggled like a mad woman every time Gwen thought about what a dick Gideon was. However, it was overly obvious that she felt more for him, just by how she got jealous when he was talking to other girls and checked to see if she had impressed him at times. I wish it had transitioned a little more slowly. That would have made it ultimately more endearing. So while I was a bit frustrated with the ending, I kind of loved it as well. The preview for the next book in any case does indicate it's not going to be all super mushy lovey dovey stuff, so that's good. If it is... well, we'll see that when it happens.
But as I stated up front, this book is too short. Maybe it only feels that way because I blazed through it at such a high speed. However, I really feel like very little concrete happened. I mean, we're teased with all these mysteries and prophecies, and in this book, almost nothing is revealed about that. It takes almost half the novel (I believe) before Gwen actually admits to her family that she's the one who has time traveled. It's odd. I wouldn't say it was slow in the beginning, but I guess that could have been condensed a bit. So while I loved reading about the time traveling, about this world and their families, I felt teased. It almost felt like this was a prequel, and the next book would be the true beginning. I dunno. I'm weird. This might just be me.
There is one other small negative thing to mention. I know that this is a translation from the original German book, but it really could have used another editing round. I couldn't help but get distracted by some of the mistakes. Some of it read as really clunky, and not just because they tried to emulate British English.
Summing Up:
This book makes me really excited about not only the series as a whole, but also about the time travel genre. I've been staying away from it for far too long, that much is obvious. I loved the characters and the concept, and my biggest problem is just that I want more. So I may just continue on to Sapphire Blue right away. (Anyone else always think of Pokémon when writing these titles, btw?) In any case, I'm going to go watch the movie now!
GIF it to me straight!
[image] The Doctor dances because time travel makes him happy.
First read: January 2013 Second read: November 2015 and omg how I love this story.
4.5 stars
Thank you forever, Marissa Meyer, for this book. Not only waFirst read: January 2013 Second read: November 2015 and omg how I love this story.
4.5 stars
Thank you forever, Marissa Meyer, for this book. Not only was it an extremely creative and enjoyable sci-fi retelling of Cinderella, but I was craving good young adult sci-fi for so long, and now I finally have found a great one.
I knew about this book for a long time, kept seeing the title on Goodreads, but something just kept holding me back. Though the idea (Cinderella is a cyborg) sounded interesting, at the same time it kind of gave me chills. But being a sci-fi fan, I finally decided I should check it out. And now I only regret not having read it sooner.
This book is awesome. First off, the world building is of the quality that reminds me why I love sci-fi. Just the whole concept of the Fourth World War destroying much of the world and the remaining countries unifying under new governments - brilliant! So believable and interesting. A plague, cyborgs, androids, hovers, ID chips, port screens - *sings* what a wonderful world. Having read so much YA recently, I don't know when I last read a book that truly took total advantage of the world the author created. But this world was beautiful, and that truly engages you to keep reading.
Cinder is an awesome heroine. To be honest, the Cinderella fairy tale was never one of my favorites. I especially just found her to be really boring. But Cinder is not that. She is strong, courageous, snarky, and stands up for what's right. Marissa gave her a really unique voice that I loved to read.
Kai somehow made the dreamy prince character even more dreamy. I really, really appreciate the times when the book sort of shifted to his point of view so we get that political angle in there. That really added a wonderful extra dimension to the story. And I love that there was no romantic melodrama - the romance really stayed on the side, which really fit the story.
The only thing I can say that's less glowing is that the big time sekrit reveal was the most obvious thing in the world. Especially when everyone and their mother is recommending this to Sailor Moon fans. *cough* I knew the second it was mentioned, around page 40 or something. That's not to say that it was less enjoyable to read, but the "must reach the ending" drive was kind of lacking.
But that all being said, I can confidently say this was a brilliant set up for the rest of the series. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel, Scarlet, and anxious to return to this beautiful, interesting, and creative world.
Recommended To:
*conformist* fans of Sailor Moon, fairy tales, and science fiction....more
Imagine all the gushing sounds on the planet and that's basically what I am right now. I'm just one puddle of goo, and don't roll your eyes a4.5 stars
Imagine all the gushing sounds on the planet and that's basically what I am right now. I'm just one puddle of goo, and don't roll your eyes at me, that's so opposite to how I usually am. This series is just plain amazing. While I personally don't think it was as great as Obsidian, it was still amazing. This series is turning out to be one of my absolute all time favorites. This book seriously just had me trembling, giggling, squealing and I don't do that. I just don't.
Let me get this out of the way, the reason why I'm giving a book that I absolutely loved 4.5 stars is because the book itself wasn't flawless. There were just some things that frustrated me a bit. I felt like the STORY improved immensely compared to Obsidian. It pretty much blew my mind. The romance was just as hot. But some sections just felt like they were dragging a bit, I dunno. It's just not the "5 stars amazing awesome omg wow" feeling, now that I'm done, but maybe that's because I'm just really sad it's over and now I have to wait for the next one. And, let's face it, it's a guilty pleasure book, it's not going to be perfect.
I still think the reason this series has so captured my heart is three main things: the super awesome, relatable Katy, the amazingly hot and UNF Daemon, and their awesome, witty banter, love-hate relationship. It's such a great formula. Maybe my reluctance to give the book five stars is because I was frantically motioning "NOW KISS" all through the book and sometimes they just wouldn't listen to me, haahaha. But seriously though, I love Katy. Such a perfect main character. And pretty much every emotion, every thought she has I've had in the past. I see so much of myself in her it's ridiculous.
The story this time was surprisingly good and it really sucked me in. I can't wait to see how it turns out next.
You know, I'm really tired. I stayed up until 2 am last night reading this and had to wake up early today for a meeting. Somewhere this week I have to start seriously studying for exams next week. I might just leave this review for some more expansion another time. I will leave you with gifs depicting my emotions.
The simplest way to describe this book is "Twilight done right". Now I feel your eyes rolling and your opinion of me falling, b5 glorious stars
[image]
The simplest way to describe this book is "Twilight done right". Now I feel your eyes rolling and your opinion of me falling, but let me be clear, I hate Twilight with pretty much every bone in my body. But this was perfect. My review is a bundle of emotions and squees, so if you want a more objective opinion of why this is so good, what "Twilight done right" really means, check out Stephanie Sinclair's review.
If I were to look at the novel critically it wouldn't deserve the five stars. I mean, I found grammatical errors, sometimes the writing style was awful, it was rather predictable, but I enjoyed it with every fiber of my being.
First off, getting rid of vampires and putting in aliens is like the coolest thing ever. Thank you so freaking much. I'm so ridiculously tired of stupid vampires, can only stand them in The Vampire Diaries, so it was a relief. And making them aliens really just makes me less biased against it, since I don't really get along with the Paranormal Romance genre.
Katy is one of the best main characters I've ever read. It's ridiculous. Her point of view is a unique delight in YA. I don't think I've ever related to a character more. She's a book blogger. She is sarcastic. She's stubborn. She doesn't take any bullshit, isn't afraid to call Daemon out on being a giant ass. And the best part was the ending, she didn't fall all head over heels and is making Daemon WORK FOR IT.
[image] Cheering for your awesomeness, Katy.
Daemon is just UNF OMG. This is the best, most droolworthy, tortured hero, badass character I've read so far. Seriously. This is how you do it. YA authors, take a note. Please. He seriously brings chills to my spine. You sexy, sexy fool.
[image] Pretty much how I imagine Daemon.
And their romance is flawless. I love love-hate relationships. They're the absolute best to read. The make out scene... Omg. I don't even remember the last time I read something that hot. Seriously. This seriously had me squealing, gasping, flailing, pretty much EVERY EMOTION IMAGINABLE. It's irresistable. It's...
[image] ^ Me
The story doesn't disappoint either. This is just on all fronts SO MUCH BETTER than Twilight. So much better. I want a movie. Like yesterday. I need to continue the series, but I sadly have new releases to read. Sigh. I can't wait though, I'm so excited to continue this.
And now, more emotional flailing, through more gifs. Basically, all these emotions were felt at one point or another.
Whoa. I didn't expect it, but Pivot Point blew me away. It's seriously a stunning debut. It hooked me from the first chapter and never let me g5 stars
Whoa. I didn't expect it, but Pivot Point blew me away. It's seriously a stunning debut. It hooked me from the first chapter and never let me go after that. Should you read this? My answer is a resounding yes. Let's take a look at the reasons why.
This is a stunning paranormal world. Addie lives in a community of gifted humans with supernatural powers. No, they don't fly or have super strength. They have mind powers (seeing the future, telekinesis, persuasion, etc.). However, they live completely closed off from the outside world, and their existence must be kept a secret. Okay, tell me you don't find this intriguing, unique, and beautiful, and then I'll tell you you're a liar, with my lie detector powers. But more than just how awesome the concept is, the world building is beautiful and well integrated into the story. Throughout the novel you gradually get more clues about how exactly that world pieces together. And after reading other novels where there are so many holes in the logic and world building, I can confidently say that is not a problem here. This world is beautiful. I just want to hug it.
Excellent pacing. So the story unfolds that Addie is confronted with her parents' divorce and she must choose the one to live with. From that point on, you get treated to alternating chapters from each of the two choices as she examines both future paths. It is brilliantly done. Each storyline was captivating and towards the end, they get more and more entertwined. Basically, this is a page turner, and I really regretted having to put the book down to go to sleep last night.
The plot is the best combination of a touching, light contemporary-like story of a divorce, moving to a new place, and eventually falling in love combined with a terrifyingly tragic murder mystery, all set in this intriguing supernatural world. Basically, you get confronted with tons of different feelings and emotions, and it all just sucks you in. Those last pages are absolutely heartwrenching. There were a few plot twists that seriously had me gasping and trembling.
Addie, our main character, is a joy to read about. She's very relatable and real, but what's most interesting about her is how you see her grow in different ways between the two different timelines, because the events that unfold shape her in different ways. It's not particularly her personality that shines to me, but it's her development and her relationships with the other characters.
Trevor. Just. Trevor. In the category of drool-worthy boys, this guy should get an award. I loved him from the very first mention. His dialogue with Addie was always super sharp and fun. And the build up to their relationship was brilliantly done and well paced. The romance was beautiful but it was subtle and didn't take center stage over the plot.
My true reactions to the ending? "There's a sequel, right? THERE IS A SEQUEL RIGHT? YES. Okay. Good. And it should just be rainbows and sunshine and Addie and Trevor. Forever." Seriously, I can't wait for that. There's no cliffhanger here - it's a true conclusion to the story, but one that still has me begging for more. In other words, it's the best kind of ending you could ask for.
Summing Up:
I am just so absolutely thrilled I picked this up. It was engaging from start to finish. The world building has left me with hearts for eyes. The pacing was brilliant. The characters and dialogue are just awesome. And overall, this is a novel that you can think about for quite a while and pull different messages away from. I just want the sequel now. And I will be eagerly awaiting anything else Miss Kasie West brings to the table. This powerful debut has me completely convinced of her writing prowess. ♥
[image] This is me, pretty much, right now.
Recommended To:
Basically everyone.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review....more
Ultraviolet is one of those books that I saw everywhere. All of my blogging friends and people I follow loved it, pretty much. So it was on my 5 stars
Ultraviolet is one of those books that I saw everywhere. All of my blogging friends and people I follow loved it, pretty much. So it was on my radar for a while, but I kept putting it off because... I was scared. Scared it wouldn't live up to my expectations. But I will never do that again. This book was amazing and I'm pretty much demanding that everyone reads it. Time for a different kind of review.
Are you tired of lackluster writing in YA? Read Ultraviolet.
The darkness behind my eyelids was thick and stank of chemicals, as though someone had poured black oil inside my head. My tongue lay like a dead slug in my mouth, and my limbs felt too heavy to lift.
Had I been sick? Was I injured? Or...
My stomach sloshed, rebelling against the thought. I couldn't be dying. I was only sixteen years old. Yet my skin itched with the coarseness of unfamiliar sheets, and the mattress beneath me felt rubbery. The air was stale and lukewarm. Where else could I be but in a hospital? Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson
The above passage shows (not counting the prologue) the first paragraphs of Ultraviolet. I just had to read that far and I knew I was getting into something good. Talk about showing, not telling. Talk about amazing imagery. And what an opening! That just sucks you right in. The writing quality never failed to amaze me, with the unique imagery enabled by writing from the perspective of someone with synesthesia producing some of the most amazing passages.
Are you tired of wishy-washy female main characters? Read Ultraviolet.
Yes, I was lonely. But not lonely enough to make myself vulnerable to someone who'd hurt me once and might well do it again. Ultraviolet, R.J. Anderson
I wouldn't go all out and say that Alison is a strong female main character, but she's absolutely not a pushover. Considering her constant doubts about her sanity and her internal battles, it's still amazing how much resilience she shows. She's incredibly intelligent and pensive about how her actions are perceived by others. Considering my love for her and my love for Juliette from Shatter Me, maybe I should look into some more "main characters questioning their sanity" books. It's just such a deep and thorough characterization that I love. (And Alison is much stronger than Juliette, for the Shatter Me dislikers.)
Are you tired of instalove? Read Ultraviolet.
So there's a love story here that basically comes at just the right pace. Alison has trouble trusting people, and that doesn't exclude the love interest. There's a beautiful, gradual build up, and the book is not too centered on the romance, as there's still enough mystery surrounding the plot which keeps you turning the pages quickly.
Are you tired of predictable plot lines? Read Ultraviolet.
Ultraviolet is the kind of book where, while you're reading, you have no idea where it could go. The mystery surrounding Alison's psychotic break and Tori's disappearance is a prevailing question mark. The cliché and predictable have no place in this novel, and it will continually surprise you. Plot twists happen that come out of NOWHERE, but then suddenly make the whole story make sense. If you're looking for something compulsively readable, look no further. When you get into this story, you might as well tell your loved ones they won't see you again till you're done.
Are you tired of cliffhanger endings in series? Read Ultraviolet.
It's been a while since I could comfortably say this, but this is a book in a series that you could seriously read as a stand alone. There is a clear story arc in this book that is tied up nicely at the end. R.J. Anderson doesn't need a cliffhanger ending, because her writing quality and amazing story will have you ordering the next book anyway.
Summing Up:
I could go on for days talking about how Ultraviolet ticks all the boxes: fleshed out secondary characters, non-stereotypical friendships, a sense of thoughtfulness about people's motivations, emotional depth, contemporary realism, etc. etc. etc. But if I haven't convinced you by now, I don't think that'll help. This book is amazing, and I wish I could erase my memory and experience it for the first time all over again.
Recommended To:
Anyone who said yes to any of the questions above....more
These Broken Stars has all the ingredients that would usually blow me away and name it an all-time favorite. While I still did love it, I'm not4 stars
These Broken Stars has all the ingredients that would usually blow me away and name it an all-time favorite. While I still did love it, I'm not quite over the moon because, yes, once again, the hype train is rolling along. This was one of the most hyped books of 2013, and while I suppose the hype was deserved, it's hard for any book to live up to the high expectations that result. For me, however, it was the reading experience itself that was encumbered.
Yeah, let's get that hype complaint out of the way first. See, this is a case where I know, without a doubt, that I would have enjoyed this book more if I had heard nothing about it ahead of time. As such, I did my best - I stayed away from all reviews, discussion, etc. about this book. However, how can one not notice, when all of their friends read the book in the same 2-3 weeks, and mark the exact same page number in a status update on Goodreads? Indeed, what These Broken Stars had going for it was this massive, unexpected plot twist that broke peoples' hearts.
While I can't blame people for posting an update when they were that shocked, the result was that I knew there would be a twist, and I subconsciously was guessing at it the entire time I was reading. My first theory, at a mere 30 pages or so into the book, was correct - precisely because I knew it would be the last thing I would expect. And still my mind involuntarily obsessed about this twist, counting down the pages until it happened and... ugh. I just wish that I could have focused more on the story itself in the present - but my brain wouldn't let me.
However, overall, I still did really love this book. I adored the start, when Tarver and Lilac meet aboard the Icarus. I loved the technology, the culture aboard the ship. Overall, the world building, with terraforming corporations and such, was truly excellent. Anyway, I love seeing that kind of star-crossed love start between people from different classes. Though Lilac's society is really uppity, the setting had such charm to it. I feared that with the kind of "clandestine" meeting the two had, it would aim towards instalove, not unlike the story's comparison to Titanic, but, luckily, the love story had a twist.
Even before the ship goes down, the two are rather resentful to each other. There's a clear attraction between them, but also a clear frustration due to their differences in status. Lilac's father, practically the most powerful man in the galaxy, would, according to Lilac, pretty much ruin Tarver's life if he was even seen in her presence more than a couple of times. And then... the ship goes down. And they're stranded, just the two of them. Two people who at least claim to hate each other stuck together? With banter? Oh you know I'm shipping this.
The survival story here is just about as good as survival stories get, for me. Lilac obviously has a lot to adjust to, but her headstrong nature keeps her from giving up. Though Tarver is frustrated by her relative weakness, he does everything he can to motivate her to keep moving and protects her whenever he is able. It wasn't hard to start cheering for them and hope that the romance would happen. When it did... I swooned a bit. There could have been more feels, and maybe I filled in the blanks a little, but I loved it.
The plot certainly packs a punch as well though. The story is quite engaging (despite my hype problem), as the chapters are separated by snippets of interviews taking place after the whole ordeal. It drives you to keep reading and find out what's going on. The planet seems abandoned, but there is a mystery as well. Strange things start happening, making Lilac and Tarver question whether there is some life after all or if they're just going mad. I loved the uniqueness of that plot. It had moments where it was dark and creepy and did a serious mindfuck. It was intriguing and engaging, right until the very end.
As a last note, at the beginning Tarver and Lilac had very distinctive voices for the PoVs and I adored that. I didn't have to question who was who. They each had their own solid personalities and motivations, and I liked seeing the contrast. But, of course, as this is a survival story, Lilac gradually gets stronger. I loved seeing that growth, no doubt! When Tarver was incapacitated and she had to fend for herself, I was cheering for her. It was great! But, after that, when there were chapters of traveling, their voices had grown closer together. Sometimes I did have to check back to see whose chapter it was. I guess it also symbolizes how their relationship got closer and the difference between their circumstances became smaller, but generally I dislike it if the PoVs are not distinctive.
Summing Up:
I wish the hype didn't get in the way here, because I would be over the moon for this book. I'm pretty sure that if I reread it, I would love it even more. Having let it all digest for a few days and now looking back, I am really impressed by this story. I loved the plot, storytelling, characters, and world building... I'm only sad that the plot didn't shock me - that I managed to guess what that huge twist would be (and how quickly that plot twist was resolved =/). But it marks the start of a great series for sure, because I can't wait to see more sides of this world. This author partnership is a golden match, and I'm eager to check out both of their other works.
Loading...
![[image]](http://www.snugglyoranges.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_m9pcbbJu7d1qayz42.gif){kind=link}
![[image]](http://www.snugglyoranges.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_inline_ml1c8dojxR1rf2nk8.gif){kind=link}
![[image]](http://www.snugglyoranges.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_mlkk3bgPGi1qm3gr4o1_500.gif){kind=link}