The Review Chain: Article Three (Systemet #1) by Anna Jakobsson Lund + GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

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Rating: PG-13

Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction

Score: ❤❤❤1/2

Page Count: 349

Book #1 of the Systemet Trilogy

Publisher: Annorlunda förlag

Published: March 3rd, 2015

Trust will get you killed – and trust will keep you alive

In a world where the System governs everything, Ava’s a rebel – one who can control other people’s thoughts with her mind. As part of a resistance movement preparing for war, this is a useful skill. 

Levi stopped believing in the struggle for freedom when it snatched his parents from him. Now he’s just trying to live a quiet life and control the voices that threaten his sanity. 

One night Levi’s sister is arrested. To free her, he has to break old promises and get involved with people he swore he’d never associate with. Ava’s ordered to help him and, together, they leave on a rescue mission. She says he has to trust the rebels. But should they?

Review:

PROS:

1. Special thank you to the very talented author herself for sending a physical copy of the book my way in order for me to review it! As part of The Review Chain, I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Before I can ramble on too much about how interesting the synopsis sounded and how the sound of it had me interested in the novel when I first read it, let's just get right into the review, shall we? But can we appreciate that cover though?

2. Right off the bat, I was getting some CITY OF EMBER vibes from this novel which I was totally digging as the book played out. It's not necessarily a post-apocalyptic book, but it does take place in a time of uprising as it is an espionage action novel with an underlying dystopia tone that really intrigued me as I read the book. The main characters of this novel are working undercover to save one of their own who have been arrested by The System and have to go a long and potentially dangerous journey in order to save their friend. There were quite a few elements of this novel that I appreciated and made the story interesting and enjoyable as it plays out.

3. One thing I really loved about the novel was the world building. It was detailed yet simplified with the descriptions which made for a beautifully smooth and uncomplicated way of explaining the world of the book to the reader. The author used a simple and straightforward writing style which went very well with one of the POVs in this book as that particular character saw the world in a very straightforward, black-and-white way. At first, it was a little hard to get the hang of what the world looked and felt like since the beginning of the book wastes no time in getting right into the story but after a few pages, you're able to visualize this almost futuristic system with ease. 

4. Another thing I liked about this novel was the air of mistrust throughout the book. The characters can trust literally no one, not even each other as the rebellion takes shape and action on bringing down The System. With a lot to lose at stake for the character, the atmosphere of mistrust really adds that little extra magic to the story that kept me as a reader entertained and wanting to know who was really worthy of trusting and wondering just what each characters' motives really were. The paranoia that characters were feeling makes the reader feel as if they are on the mission with them, making it somewhat interactive in that sense.

CONS:

Originally Published in Swedish March 3rd, 2015

1. While I enjoyed this novel for the most part, I was a little let down by the choice of it being written in third-person for the POVs of the characters. This novel would have been killer to read in first-person for each of the POVs as it would have allowed me personally to really connect with the characters and get to know them and how they think, feel, and act, which was something I wasn't able to do while reading. I'm not sure if the third-person writing kept me from attaching myself to the characters as it distanced them from me, or if it just didn't work for me because of the kind of fast-paced story it was but I was disappointed that none of the characters really clicked for me. I wanted to love them but I wasn't really able to connect with any of them for some reason.

2. There is a lot happening throughout the book and a lot of information coming at you about The System and the rebellion and while it is paced nicely, it's still a lot of info. I found myself kind of feeling like I was drowning in all the information at some points, it just wasn't sinking in fast enough. However, if you're the kind of reader who doesn't mind a lot of information about this kind of dystopia world, you might enjoy the book just fine.

Overall, I did really like the book and the crazy plot twist did catch me by surprise, almost blowing my mind as I read. I don't know if I'll reread this one in the future but I would definitely recommend it to all dystopian book lovers. Article Three is totally a game-changer to the dystopian genre as it includes different elements that make it a unique read in the ocean of cookie-cutter dystopian novels out there. 

You Can Purchase The Book Here:

Amazon

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About The Author:

I’ve always been a daydreamer. As a kid I wasn’t that interested in other children, I wanted to be left alone with my mind and let it tell me stories. Distant worlds and time travel were frequently reoccurring topics. I was usually the hero, with the occasional side-kick. Writing came naturally to me, as a way to try to catch the stories, and later on, to share those with the friends I did manage to get, despite being somewhat strange.

Adulthood didn’t stop the daydreaming, but it made me use less of it in my writing. Instead I wrote poetry and more conventional stories. Boring stories.

When I was pregnant with my second child I’d enough of them. I’d self-published one novel; a neat piece of relationship drama where nothing happened. I loved the characters but the plot was too slow. Writing, publishing and marketing were hard work, and if I was going to do it again it would not be with a boring story.

My brain rescued me by playing me a scene I’d first come up with as a teen. I knew that the street depicted was from the future, and that the boy getting beat up was on a quest to save his sister. I also had the idea that the girl saving him (who had been me in the original story, of course) was part of a resistance movement.

I ran with that, started writing and discovered the kind of writer’s high I hadn’t experienced since I was a kid. As I finished that first book (Article Three) more ideas kept entering my daydreams. Not just about the two other parts of what would be The System trilogy, but ideas that could be turned into short stories and new novels. My mind is as creative now that it has ever been, which is no small blessing for a mum of small children.

The wonderful thing about sci-fi and fantasy is that you don’t have to be tied down by norms and rules of the ordinary world.  You’re still able to address modern day issues, though. I try to use this in my writing by exploring themes that make the reader question his or her own views as well as society’s. I use characters that are not often depicted in main-stream literature. People I find interesting, who stretch our notion about what parts people usually play in literature. In my writing there’re no alpha-dogs and no damsels in distress. I’ve even declared my books love-triangle free. It sounds like a joke, but I want other things for my readers than the question about which hot guy the main character is going to choose at the end.

I’m an indie-publisher, which is equal parts funny and exhausting, and I have four novels published in Swedish. The idea to get my novels translated professionally and try to reach a larger audience is more than a little crazy, but as I started discussing it with fellow writers I couldn’t quite shake it. As I grow older I get increasingly less afraid, and also crazier, and I feel like I would be stupid not to follow my dreams when I have the chance.

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Review: Distant Horizon by Stephanie Flint

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Rating: PG

Genre: Fantasy, Dystopia

Score: 3.75 stars

Page Count: 320

Book #1 of the Distant Horizon series

Publisher: Infinitas Publishing

Published: October 27th, 2016

The Community is safe.
Unless you have superpowers.

Sixty years ago, a hallucinogenic plague annihilated half the world’s population, leading to the formation of the Community—an international government that promises its citizens safety, security, and efficiency. Every day, Community citizens swallow a mandatory pill to ensure their immunity to the plague. A year after graduating high school, they take the Health Scan.

Most pass, and continue with their lives. Others disappear.

Eighteen-year-old Jenna Nickleson hasn’t taken the pill since her senior year in high school. She feels more alive without it, and she hasn’t shown any signs of infection—at least, not until two days after a surprise Health Scan is announced and Special Forces arrive at her university campus.

Spurred by the recent string of hallucinations, Jenna searches for any inkling of what happens to those who fail the scan. Rumor has it that they’re sent away for treatment and, once cured, receive a menial job. But when she uncovers the cruel truth behind the plague, her ideal world is shattered.

Underneath the illusion of safety, Special Forces agents harbor a dark secret.

The plague is a lie.

Review:

PROS:

1. Special thanks to Sara from YA Book Bound Tours for sending me an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Now, since I really love dystopian novels and any book set in the future, I was really excited when I got the chance to review this book. It sounded like a really neat concept and since I'm a sucker for books about conspiracies, I couldn't pass up the chance. Here's the review: 

2. The story was action-packed which kept the book moving forward, especially since there is quite a lot going on and the characters are having to overcome difficult obstacles. The rigid and strict society that our characters live in is reminiscent of other dystopian worlds I've read before so while it was a little cookie-cutter in that sense, I still thought it was a cool setting and an interesting world to learn about as the story progresses.

3. I would describe the setting and overall feel of this book as DIVERGENT but instead with superpowers with a steampunk overlay and a dash of MATCHED. It was a pretty standard dystopian world, however, the book is laced with uncovering secrets and lies which made it interesting to read. I also liked the characters even though none of them really stood out to me but I was still invested in seeing what happened to them all. They were a very smart and clever group of kids so it was fun to see their problem-solving skills take action many times throughout the book.

4. The writing was also great and it is a fast-paced book so I would totally recommend it if you're a fan of other dystopian novels or a fan of action-packed sci-fi adventures. While not my favorite dystopian novel, I can't really put a finger on what I didn't like about the story itself. I think I would have given this book a higher rating had it been more original as like I said before, it was reminiscent of a lot of other dystopian novels. If the book had an element that was creative to its genre or a huge plot twist or two thrown in, I think I would have enjoyed it more. Otherwise, it was still a nice read. 

You Can Purchase The Book Here:

Amazon

Amazon UK

Barnes and Noble

iTunes

Kobo

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About The Author:

Stephanie Flint (formerly Stephanie Bibb) graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in photography and a minor in creative writing. She merged the two interests into book cover design and photographic illustration, but she particularly enjoys writing speculative fiction and plotting her stories in the form of table-top RPGs with her husband, Isaac. They cofounded Infinitas Publishing in June 2015. 

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I hope you all enjoyed this book review! Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Review: The Crown by Kierra Cass (The Selection #5)

The Crown by Kiera Cass (The Selection #5)

Rating: PG

Genre: Dystopia, Romance

Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Page Count: 279

Book #5 of The Selection series

Publisher: HarperTeen

Published: May 3, 2016

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

Review:

PROS:

1. I was so excited when this book was first released that I was just dying to get my hands on it, which is why I pre-ordered it because I didn't want to have to worry about finding a copy at the store. Before I begin my review, I would suggest not reading this post if you haven't yet read the first book in this series or if you haven't yet read The Heir which is the book prior to this one. I want to avoid spoiling anyone! Now with that said, let's get onto the review! 

2. The first thing I loved about this book is the fact that from the previous book up until the end of The Crown, you really get to see how much Eadlyn has grown up both as a leader and as a person. I loved that the book portrayed her as a stronger, less bratty character in this book since she comes to some pretty harsh realizations at the end of The Heir which influence her actions in this continuation. Eadlyn really matures as she goes through her Selection and realizes that she can still be a leader without having to stray away from who she really is. I thought it was a very valuable lesson.

3. I absolutely adored following Eadlyn and her suitors throughout this book! The final six were just a hoot to get to know and it was hilarious with the way they all teased each other, lifted each other up and became really good friends with each other including Eadlyn. It was clear to see once the story was wrapped up that some of the suitors will more than likely be life-long friends to the young Highness and with each other which made me really want a sixth book in the series. 

4. I honestly don't think there was a single thing I didn't like about this book. Which is a new one for me. I loved the writing style, how quick and fun of a read it was, the characters were so entertaining and everything ended in a way I was hoping for yet not expecting at the same time. I won't spoil you guys for who Eadlyn chooses to marry or if she even does get married, but I was so happy beyond words with how the story came to a close and I still have all the feels from reading the ending. 

So that's it! I really hope you guys enjoyed this book review and hope you have a fun time reading this book if you plan to in the future. Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Review: The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Chaos Walking #1)

The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Chaos Walking #1)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia

Score: ❤❤❤❤

Page Count: 478

Book #1 of the Chaos Walking series

Publisher: Walker

Published: May 5, 2008

Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him -- something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn't she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd's gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is. 

Review:

PROS:

1. First off, I'm back from my mini hiatus so hurray for that! A few weeks ago I went book shopping with a couple of my friends and was really encouraged to pick this book up after hearing really awesome things about it from one of those friends who heard amazing reviews from one of her friends. Yay friendship. I had been meaning to read this book for YEARS but never got around to picking up a copy. I found one at said bookstore and knew that I was not going home without this book in my hands. I started reading it and after a busy three weeks, I finally got to finish it. So, here's the review!

2. The first thing I noticed about this book was the writing style. I absolutely adored it because of a few specific reasons. One is that it was a very big part of the world building and set the perfect tone for the story. Todd Hewitt lives in a very rough and hard working landscape with others who don't really think too highly of reading and even writing or any type of proper grammar. Seeing words such as 'derekshun' and 'confushun' made the book feel very raw and almost desolate. It put me right into the mood and setting of this book from the very first page which I really enjoyed. The use of punctuation is also very scattered, some scenes filling up an entire page without commas or periods which kept the story moving at a fast pace and made it exciting to read. With almost magical descriptions thrown in here and there, I was hooked from the first page.

3. The characters were also very interesting and fun to follow, even the villains. Todd Hewitt is a very smart young man despite his lack of reading skills. He is very resourceful and doesn't at all have a problem with speaking his mind, pun not intended. Todd isn't afraid to ask questions or stand up for himself or another and fight back. He's also very confident in his actions and is very stubborn hen it comes to leaving to the ones he cares about behind. Other side characters such as Ben, Cillian, Aaron and even the dog, Manchee, are all such neat characters to follow. I really wish the first two had gotten a little more spotlight because I thought they were very strong characters who had too little focus on them. Needless to say, this book just has some amazing characters.

4. I also really loved how fast paced the book was while still giving you enough information as a reader to understand some of the governmental thinking and interpretations of justice within Prentisstown. As you go along with Todd and his journey to finding out the truth of Prentisstown and what the people have been hiding from him for his entire life, you get bits of action, heart-pounding scenes, suspense, even some comedic moments that had me laughing for a good while. You also get some surprising revelations, interesting facts about the town and their history as well as some sad truths and nothing but adventure. I absolutely loved this book and I'm excited to find out what happens next in the series!

CONS:

1. The only thing I didn't really like about this book was simply that some of the elements were a little repetitive. I have one in mind that may or may not be a spoiler so I'll just say that at one point, I was starting to get a little annoyed at a reoccurring event, even though it was well placed within the story so as not to feel random. 

Overall, I do really want to continue reading this series because I just need to know what happens next in the story! The ending was such a cliffhanger that I was in denial of the last page being exactly that. I NEED MORE.

 I highly recommend this series if you're a fan of such books as Divergent, The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner and Uglies. 

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #4)

Winter by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #4)

Rating: PG

Genre: Fantasy, Dystopian, Romance, Retelling

Score: ❤❤❤❤❤ 

Page Count: 827

Book #4 in the Lunar Chronicles series

Publisher: Fiewel and Friends

Published: November 10, 2015

SPOILERS AHEAD!! DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE PREVIOUS BOOKS!

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

Reviews of The Lunar Chronicles:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #1)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #2)

Cress by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3)

Fairest by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3.5)

REVIEW:

PROS:

1. WINTER IS FINALLY HERE! PRAISE THE LORD ABOVE!!! Anyway, now that the fangirling is done, (kind of) I'm so excited to have finally picked this book up and read it in just a few days though still not fast enough! I freaking love this series so much and I was anxious to find out all what happens to the characters and how this series wraps up! Without further ado, here's my review on this AWESOME conclusion to the series:

2. I swear that the characters in these books just keep getting better and better with each installment as we follow their journeys through earth and on Luna. I want to talk for a second about my favorite character, Cinder. I love how strong she continues to grow as she becomes more determined to dethrone Queen Levana and take back her rightful place in the kingdom of Luna and become the ruler that she knows the people deserve. I love how Cinder doesn't try to portray herself as perfect, knowing perfectly well all that is at stake and fearing so much for her friends as their journey to take Levana down becomes more and more dangerous.

We do get to see a lot more of Scarlet in this book as well, which is nice because we barely got to see any of her in the third book. She's still not my favorite character but she is very feisty and headstrong and doesn't at all give up easily which is always a nice trait in a character.
Cress also becomes a little less naive as she helps everyone with their mission and I really loved that. Cress becomes a stronger character as well as a more daring one who doesn't shy away from danger as quickly as she normally does.

Our other characters, Thorne, Kai, Wolf and the loveable Iko are pretty much the same as always which is perfect. Thorne still can't take things seriously and makes jokes at the most inappropriate times, Kai is just . . . PERFECT. Be still my heart ❤❤❤❤ Wolf just wants to finally get his chance to fight back against Levana any way he can and Iko, I swear gets sassier and sassier throughout the book. Overall, THEY ARE MY BABIES!!

3. The story line and what everything leads up to in this book is just so much craziness and epic-ness that I honestly couldn't wrap my brain around all of what was happening. There were so many twists and turns, ups and downs, excitement, fighting, action, a typhoon of emotions that it still hasn't sunken in yet that the series is over. I was a bit nervous to think about how much could possibly happen in over eight hundred pages but I was hooked into the story the WHOLE time as the story played out and our characters had to face a lot more problems than just sneaking into the palace to get their hands on Levana. So much happened in the story that it's a bit hard to imagine just what runs through Marissa Meyer's mind while writing these books. Respect.  

4. Overall, if you haven't yet read the Lunar Chronicles series, DO IT! It has science fiction, epic fighting and war scenes, adventure across space, danger, excitement, a little bit of magic and romance and it's just all around an addicting read for everyone. If you're looking for a series that seriously has so much to offer, look no further because Cinder is here! Or, Winter. You get what I'm saying.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I have no doubt that it will keep you glued to the pages until the very end. I should know, I stayed up until two in the morning last night reading and I died on page 726. My body couldn't handle it!

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I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

The enchantment continues....

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

--
The Little Android: A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.
Glitches: In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….
The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.
Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.
The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.
After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.
The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see a game called The Princess
The Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.
Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century...

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer Available February 2, 2016

Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Romance

Score: ⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 405

Book #2 in The Hunger Games trilogy

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Published: September 1, 2009

 

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

 

Review:

PROS:

1. Yes, I'm very and highly aware that I'm extremely late when it comes to jumping on this bandwagon of a book (four years and three movies to be precise). I still love, however, that many of the people who visit my blog or follow me on Instagram have been following me on this "journey" if you will with reading these books because of a reading goal I made at the beginning of this year. Now that I've thanked all of you beautiful people, here's my very unimportant and late-to-the-party review!

 

2. The first thing I really liked about this book was that it goes into a little more detail about how the government works and what exactly they're willing to sacrifice in order to keep their laws and ways of living under control and will pretty much show no mercy to anyone in order to do that. Even if it means killing off the most rebellious of the people. In the first book, the whole story was supposed to be focused on the Games but I liked this sequel more because it offers more insight to how the leaders' way of thinking is and also has a bit more world building that I liked a little better as well.

 

3. I also really liked that this book had more action and suspense than the first book. This one didn't seem to bore me as often and it actually had me a little more excited about what was about to happen next. I wouldn't say it had me on the edge of my seat exactly but it was more entertaining and kept my attention a little longer. I mean, when you have flesh-eating monkeys, blistering fog and a mysterious beast that literally rips you apart, it's hard not to be focused on the story.

 

CONS:

Sadly, that was about all I really liked about this book.

The reasons why I didn't give this book a five-star rating was because I still didn't really like any of the characters in this book. Katniss still annoyed me and so did some of the other characters except for Peeta and Finnick and even then, I still didn't love them. There just wasn't enough character development for my personal liking and I thought the story also dragged on a little too much.

 

I had a hard time staying focused and reading this book without wondering when the book was going to be over. I just wasn't invested in the story enough to really care about what was happening and I found myself just kind of dragging myself through each page. I wanted to like this book but it ended up being just an okay read for me.

 

The Hunger Games (My Review)

 

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I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you want me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!



Review: The Heir by Kiera Cass (The Selection #4)

The Heir by Kiera Cass (The Selection #4)

Rating: PG

Genre: Dystopian, Romance

Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 342

Book #4 of The Selection series

Publisher: Harper Teen

Published: May 5, 2015

 

THIS IS A FOURTH BOOK IN A SERIES= SPOILERS!

Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought.

 

Review:

PROS:

1. I was so excited when this book was first announced because I was kind of sad knowing that last year, The Selection series would only be a trilogy. When the news came out that this fourth book would be coming out, I was stoked! I had the release date and everything marked on my calendar and Ii was especially interested when it was revealed that the book would follow the King and Queen's daughter. After I finally read the third book in the series, I was even more excited to know who the queen was. Anyway, enough babbling and here's the review!

 

2. I actually liked Princess Eadlyn's character a bit more than I probably should since, like her mother, she has some attitude issues. I really liked that Eadlyn was very independent, feisty and determined to run her country one day without a husband at her side. She didn't think love was for her and that played a part in her stubbornness of going through with her Selection. She was a bit bratty at times and didn't seem like the nicest person ever and she was also spoiled. At least she had enough reason for that, however, considering she is the one and only princess and the heir to the throne. She's hard to love but like her mother, she's trying. I really loved the other characters as well in the book. Speaking of America Singer, I really loved that she was a mom  just trying to make everything easier on her daughter by passing on her own experiences from her Selection. Maxon seemed like the coolest dad ever and I also enjoyed the diversity of the suitors chosen to compete in the Selection. Of course I have my favorites: Kile, Hennri, Hale, even Erik though I don't know if he even counts.  

 

3. I really liked how much fun it was to read this book. The previous three book in this series where reminiscent to the Bachelor whereas this book, wasn't that far off from reminding me of the Bachelorette. Obviously, this book had some boy drama and Princess Eadlyn had to put her foot down a few times and put a few people in their place. There was some drama and some heartache, even some denial of quite possibly being in love, one thing Princess Eadlyn really doesn't want to be one bit. It was an entertaining read and a fun one. This series is known for being a series only read for some good dramatic entertainment but this one was possibly a little calmer than the rest of the series.

 

4. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'm super excited to see what the fifth and final book in this series has to offer! If you haven't yet read this book and are maybe a little hesitant to pick it up, I would say to still give this one a shot. Just make sure you have plenty of caffeine, chocolate and maybe even a happy, stress free movie to pop in when you need a break from Princess Eadlyn's bratty attitude. I flew through this book, couldn't put it down, and I'm excited to see what happens next!

 

The reason why I didn't give this book a five-star rating was because of how frustrating Princess Eadlyn could be. Again, she was the only daughter, heir to the throne and spoiled because of that but there were a few times I wanted to shake her and tell her to get it together. Hopefully she gets a little less bratty in the next book ;)

 

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Review: The One by Kiera Cass (The Selection #3)

The One by Kiera Cass (The Selection #3)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Dystopian, Romance, YA Fiction

Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 323

Book #3 of The Selection series

Publisher: HarperTeen

Published: May 4, 2014

 

The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

 

Review:

PROS:

1. Since this is in fact the third book of a series, there might be some spoilers that could come up in this review but I will give some fair warning just in case that happens! I was super excited to finally pick this book up and was happy that I was just in time to read it before the next book in the series is released next month. Here's the review!

 

2. The character development throughout the books was really getting interesting and by this third book, I was just so in love with the characters. In the first book, The Selection, our female protagonist America Singer is entered into a competition along with 34 other girls to compete for the heart of Prince Maxon and become the next princess that will one day be queen (click above for review). Just to keep this section short, I adored her character for how stubborn, annoyed and humored she was by the entire Selection process. In the second book, however, her character became frustrating to follow and became more dramatic and not at all like she was in the previous book. In this third book, her mind is clear and she has a better understanding of what she really wants and knows just what she feels for Prince Maxon. I loved how her character ended up turning out to be and I thought she was a lot stronger and more willing to stand up for what she believed was right no matter the consequences.

I loved seeing the other characters grow as well and I loved how much they continued to strengthen bonds of friendship, romance and became more of a team despite their differences. It was refreshing and I'm sad to think some of those characters won't appear in the next book.

 

3. I thought it was really cool to see a little more action in this book. The previous two didn't really have a lot of excitement other than watching 35 girls pretty much attack each other for a crown. Who doesn't love a little drama, right? I'm really happy that this third book got a lot more action and even had a few bullets flying. Okay, more than a few. I liked the excitement of a couple of big conflicts go awry and sometime it got a little graphic though not too much as to take away from the story. I would've loved to see a lot more action from the previous two books but I think holding off until this third book might've been a good move, seeing as so far, in my opinion, this book is the best yet in the series.

 

4. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book because of the character development, storyline, and how well this book wrapped up. I was mostly satisfied with how the story came about and I'm really excited to see what happens next in the next installment though I'm a little sad to know my very loved group of characters will not be the center of attention. I really enjoyed reading this and I have to say, the ending was also straight to the point and was very lovely indeed.

 

CONS:

1. The reason why I didn't give this book a five-star rating was because I didn't really love the world this book was set in. I would've loved a lot more dystopian elements other than divided countries, telephones and guns. All three books gave a dystopian feel but didn't really deliver in my opinion on the build up of a dystopian world. The castes were inventive, though not that original, and there was lots of conflict between them and other kingdoms. I just wanted to see more of the dystopian elements you see in other book of this genre.

 

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The Heir by Kiera Cass (The Selection #4)

Out May 5, 2015

 

 

Review: Fairest by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3.5)

Fairest by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3.5)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Romance, Dystopian

Score: 4.5 stars

Page Count: 220

Book #3.5 of the Lunar Chronicles Series

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Published: January 27, 2015

 

In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.
Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

 

Review:

PROS:

1. Seeing as I recently just finished reading the first three books in this series, I couldn't resist picking up this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter to read more about the beloved villain, Queen Levana. I really love Queen Levana as a villain and think she pretty much has the role down to a T but I really wanted to get to know her story more. I was really excited to pick it up and once again, flew threw it's pages in just one sitting!

 

2. Queen Levana is a seriously interesting and horribly evil character that you honestly can't help but love her for. She fits the criteria of a villain so well and pretty much does the job perfectly. While reading this book, I really loved getting to know who she was when she was younger and how exactly she came to be the person she was now. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Levana as events in her life played big roles into turning her into something sinister when she could've been a sweet person. Her life was far from perfect and full of rejection and she was constantly being told she wasn't good enough or pretty enough. I also enjoyed some new characters that we probably would've never met had this story not been written. I also really enjoyed seeing some character references to the other books such as Prince Kai, Cress, Wolf and of course, the one and only Cinder.

 

3. I also loved seeing how she grew up and how the events took place over certain periods of time. This book isn't a full-length novel like some believe it to be, it's just a collection of short stories that intertwine to create a collection of events that happen in Queen Levana's teen and new adult years. From the time she was born up until she became the sinister queen that started hatching a plan to take over Earth. I really liked seeing how she grew up and just what changes happened to her to make her a cold, evil and ultimately broken character. It was kind of sad yet entertaining at the same time.

 

4. Overall, I thought this was a great way to dive into more details about the villain of the Lunar Chronicles and enjoyed reading more about her and her life and what she could've been and what she is. I thought this was a great little taste of more of the Lunar world until we're able to get the fourth and final book in this series!

 

The only reason why I didn't give this a five-star rating was because even though I fully enjoyed reading this book, I felt like it should've been a little longer. I was satisfied for now, seeing as this book also had the first four amazing chapters of Winter!

 

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Winter by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #4)

Out November 10, 2015

Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3)

Cress by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: YA, Romance, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 550

Book #3 of the Lunar Chronicles Series

Publisher: Macmillian

Published: February 4, 2014

 

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

 

Review:

PROS:

1. So ever since I finished reading Scarlet, the second book in the Lunar Chronicles series, I couldn't get over how much I needed to know what happened next with the characters and the story and all that jazz! I finally was able to pick this book up and flew through all 550 pages in just a couple of sittings.

 

2. The first thing obviously is the characters! I thought I loved them in the first book, the second but oh my gosh did I love them in this third book so much more! I really loved how strong Cinder's characters grew to be in each book. She just kept getting more courageous and strong and determined to overthrow Queen Levana and it was awesome to see her grow in that way. Scarlet, however, didn't make much of an appearance in this third book which really disappointed me because I really wanted to see her character develop a little more. In this third book, Cress is introduced into the group of misfits and I really loved her character despite how naïve and how much of a dreamer she was and couldn't really grasp reality. Captain Thorne takes on a bigger role in this book as well and I have to say, I couldn't get enough of him! Wolf and Kai obviously make their appearances as well which I didn't mind of course. Prince Kai is just everything. And, of course, the story wouldn't be complete without the lovable and precious Iko! She's just perfect in this book!

 

3. The story took on such a fast-paced turn compared to the last two books. The third book is by far my favorite book so far in the series with all of it's action packed scenes, funny moments, and romantic elements all blending so well into the story. I loved how much more adventure and suspense was in this book and it truly had me on the edge of my seat the whole entire time! I loved reading how the characters planned on taking down Queen Levana and how they planned on getting to Luna without dying. That would be bad.

 

4. I could honestly go on forever talking about this book! Character development was just so great in this book as well as the continuous world building and storyline. It was just a really exciting read overall and I honestly can't imagine how much better the fourth and final book in this series will be! I really love this series and I have to say this book left me wanting so much more and wanting to know more than anything what happens next in the story!

 

5. Can we just talk about that ending though? I mean, seriously, Cinder and Kai are just life.

 

Winter by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #4)

Available: November 10, 2015

Winter by Marissa Meyer Cover Reveal!

WINTER by MARISSA MEYER Excerpt

 

The cover is here! Marissa Meyer, the author of the amazing Lunar Chronicles Series, has finally released the cover for the fourth and final book in the series, Winter, out in November! This is something fans of the series have been waiting for forever, including me! I'm currently reading "Cress" but if you want to check out this series, below is the link to my review of the first book, "Cinder"!

 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #1)

 

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. 
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

 



Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Dystopian

Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 383

Book #1 of the Red Queen Trilogy

Publisher: Orion

Published: February 10, 2015

 

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.
To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.
Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.
But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

 

Review:

PROS:

1. This is of course a very popular book already and I was super excited for it even before it actually released. I thought the synopsis was interesting and sounded a bit dark and reminded a little of Throne Of Glass and The Young Elites. Here's my review for y'all!

 

2. I always like to start a review by talking about the characters first. I really enjoyed them and thought they were a great group. I really liked Mare's character. I thought she was strong, determined and ready to fight if she had to. She wasn't easily scared though she did have her fears and used them as fuel to help her fight back and protect herself. I did think she could've had a bit more development but she wasn't flat. I also enjoyed the side characters such as the Princes and Mare's family and friends. They were a loveable family and really cared about Mare and the Princes were very interesting as well. The younger Prince was sweet and quite the gentleman. The older Prince (who's name is kind of a spoiler so I won't say it) was very strong and a natural-born leader and king. Overall, I really loved getting to know the characters, both the good and the very bad.

 

3. I loved the world in this book. I really got the feeling of a post-apocalyptic and dystopian feel from the story. I loved seeing how the Reds lived, how they struggled to just put dinner on the table and how the Silvers lived, most of them living like royalty without having to worry about anything. The world was full of diversity and non-existing equality between the Reds and the Silvers.

 

4. I really loved all of the "superpowers" that the Silvers had. I thought it was cool how some were capable of controlling the elements (very Avatar-esque) and others had the ability to control anything metal, read minds, control minds and of course Mare's power. Some also had the ability to heal people which was also pretty cool. 

 

5. This book also had some major plot-twists! Completely surprising and I swear my jaw actually touched the floor. They were pretty mind-blowing and I'm a sucker for a good plot-twist that completely catches me off guard which is exactly what this book did! 

 

6. This book reminded me a lot of other popular books, the two I mentioned before and Avatar and the X-Men. It had some really cool action scenes and a lot of action in general. It was fast-paced and very detailed and a little complex which is not an easy thing for an author to make entertaining. It was a little fantasy-light, had some romance and was a quick read that was very enjoyable. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy any of the things listed!

 

Victoria Aveyard Website

 

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!