Review: The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fantasy

Score: 3.5 stars

Page Count: 391

Book #1 of The Orphan Queen series

Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books

Published: March 10, 2015

Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.
She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.
She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others.
Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.

Review:

PROS:

1. So I'll say this right off the bat: If you love Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, more than likely you'll love this one too. I was really excited for this lovely when the book was first released and I decided to pick it up just a few days ago and get a little fantasy in my life. I'm not going to lie here, it wasn't a favorite of mine but I still enjoyed it enough to want the second book in this series! Here's the review:

2. So for the characters, I enjoyed them enough. Wil, Black Knife, Melanie, Patrick and all the Ospreys all had pretty interesting pasts. This book doesn't go into detail when it comes to their pasts, which I was a little disappointed by but the characters were all pretty strong and even a little intimidating in their own way. Wil is of course the rightful ruler of her kingdom and is very determined to take back her thrown, no matter the cost. She's an amazing fighter and can definitely take care of herself without anyone's help. She's also very strong both physically and emotionally but has an incredibly soft spot for her people and their livelihood. She's a natural born leader and fighter and that shows throughout the story. Melanie was actually a rather sweet character and wasn't as bold as Wil but more sneaky and quiet. Patrick is a lot harder than all the characters. He believes in his own reasoning for his actions and doesn't regret a thing, no matter who gets hurt in the process. Black Knife is very mysterious and honestly reminded me a little of Batman. Wears all black? Always has a mask? Vigilante? Totally a medieval version of Batman. 

3. I really loved the world building and magic system in this book because of it's descriptions and uses. I loved how old and magical the world felt and I thought it was so cool to see what kind of creatures lurked in its shadows and outskirts. I loved how the magic was simple yet powerful and how easily Wil could "animate" anything she wanted and make it do whatever she pleased. The creatures and beasts in this book were really cool because you had half-man-half-monster beings and even giant scorpions. The world was built up in a way that made it a very dark and monstrous place and I really enjoyed that aspect. I wouldn't want to live there but I still think it was pretty cool!

4. The last thing I liked about this book was that even though it had a MAJOR cliffhanger and left me like "akjsfdbajbawufga", I really enjoyed it and I'm excited for the second book which comes out sometime next year. Like I said before, if you like TOG or are just in the mood for some high-fantasy, I suggest taking a look at this one and seeing what you think of it. There's a lot going on in this book so make sure you're in the mood for some action!

The reason why I didn't give this book a five-star rating was because of these three reasons:

CONS:

1. It was a bit of a slower read despite its intense action scenes and twists and turns and I couldn't get invested in the characters or story as much as I would've liked to because of it's slower pace.

2. Because there was so much going on already, the romance in this book just felt forced and a little awkward and didn't give me anything interesting. With all the magic, war, fighting, battle, and secrecy going on, the romance was just a little too much for my taste.

3. The ending also felt very rushed and took a little bit of an awkward turn. I would've loved to have seen the last chapter be spread out into maybe two or three chapters instead of trying to wrap up the story as fast as it did. The book was also a little predictable, considering I knew Black Knife's identity halfway through the book and why Melanie was sneaking out at night without telling Wil where she was going.

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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!

 

The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows (The Orphan Queen #2)

Available: April 15, 2016

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!

The Rose Society by Marie Lu Cover Reveal!

SYNOPSIS

Behold, world! Marie Lu has finally revealed the beautiful cover art to her new book "The Rose Society" which is the sequel to the first book in this series, The Young Elites. I'm beyond excited for this book to come out! The Rose Society will be published on October 6, 2015 and it honestly can't feel any farther away than it already feels. In case you haven't read the first book, you can check out my review about it to get my thoughts about it and maybe be convinced to add this to your TBR!

 

Review: The Young Elites

SYNOPSIS:

 Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.
Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.
Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.
Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

  

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: PG-13

Score: ★★★★★

Genre: Dystopian, Romance

Page Count: 338

Book #1 of the Shatter Me trilogy

Publisher: Harper Teen

Published: November 2012

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but the Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette into a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and the Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Review:

Pros:

1. This dystpoian book was a winner for me in many ways from the very first page. I loved pretty much everything about this book and it definitely deserves the hype that its been given!

2. The characters in this book were just amazing. I really loved all of their personalities and I loved the development of them all. I really connected with them all which can be hard to do sometimes. They were all very different and some made me laugh while others were infuriating but lovable at the same time.

3. The story was so well built that it all flowed so well together. The climax was perfect and I loved all the thrilling scenes sprinkled throughout. There was a touch of mystery that added just that much more interest to the story.

4. I loved all the elements weaved seamlessly into this book. It had a big dystopian feel that reminded me of The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken meets The Young Elites by Marie Lu, kids with cool powers treated like dangerous criminals and used as weapons. It's an amazing blend of romance, super cool abilities and secrets that are surprising, sweet and mind blowing in every way.

5. I couldn't put this book down when I started reading it! The writing was so amazing and somewhat poetic. I really loved the crossed out words and sentences, I felt like it really brought the reader into what the character was really thinking and what she actually said and did. 

Age Recommendation: 13+

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any 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! 

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The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Rating: PG-13

Score: ★★★★★

Genre: Dystopian, Action, Sci-Fi

Page Count: 488

Book #1of The Darkest Minds trilogy

Publisher: Hyperion

Published: December 18, 2012

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America's children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control. Now, sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her- East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.

Review:

Pros:

1. This book was pretty much a winner for me from the very beginning seeing as all my favorite genres were wrapped into one amazing book like this one. Once again, this is a five-star book in my opinion and it's no wonder why this book has gotten so much hype in just a couple of years. If you're a fan of Article 5 or The Young Elites, this book is for you!

2. The characters in this book completely won me over from the beginning. Ruby is very strong and a very feisty female lead that I thought made the book that much more empowering. The other characters, Liam and Chubs, were just a joy to read about. With all their funny jokes and sarcastic comments, I really loved them. Zu was just adorable as well as a little girl you really don't want to mess with. I really loved how the villain in this book came in many characters from the entire government to a friend they thought they could trust.

3. All the genres in this book really won me over. It has a huge dystopian feel to it, which you all should know that I'm a sucker for. It also had adventure, action and even a little romance that I thought blended very well into the rest of the story and wasn't rushed at all.  I really loved all the supernatural abilities that these kids had, from reading minds to erasing people's memories, it was just so cool!

4. The writing for this book is absolutely flawless. Alexandra Bracken is an amazing author. Her writing is so easy to read and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put this book down and I couldn't read it fast enough. She created an amazing set of characters, built an amazing new world and created stories for every character she wrote about. 

5. Lastly, the book kept me interested from the very first page to the very last. It had a lot of fast-paced scenes and an amazing yet heartbreaking ending. It was sweet, funny, dark, and mysterious all at the same time. I'm really excited to read the second book and I'll be flying through that one as well.

Age Recommendation: 13+

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any 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!

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