Everblaze

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, but here’s my newest review for Everblaze by Shannon Messenger!

Title: Everblaze (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #3)
Author: Shannon Messenger
Publication Date: November 4, 2014 by Aladdin

Rating: ★★★ 2.5/5

Summary:

Sophie Foster is ready to fight back.

Her talents are getting stronger, and with the elusive Black Swan group ignoring her calls for help, she’s determined to find her kidnappers—before they come after her again.

But a daring mistake leaves her world teetering on the edge of war, and causes many to fear that she has finally gone too far. And the deeper Sophie searches, the farther the conspiracy stretches, proving that her most dangerous enemy might be closer than she realizes.

In this nail-biting third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must fight the flames of rebellion, before they destroy everyone and everything she loves.

This is the third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series. This review may contain spoilers.

Keeper of the Lost Cities (the series) is sort of like a Harry Potter remix where you have this new girl who happens to have all these crazy powers and is expected to save the world. That’s Sophie, our genetically modified, crazy, rule-breaking, (heart breaking) heroine who’s jumped in out of nowhere.

The books are definitely enjoyable. But it brings nothing new to the table, especially in Everblaze. The writing style also gets annoying and a bit too childish after a while (I think it’s because it’s aimed at middle schoolers).

The major problem I had with this book though was the amount of repetition and scenarios where everything works out handy dandy for our protagonist team.

I know that this might sound pessimistic, but I actually wanna see the characters suffer a bit. The book is pretty much candy and rainbows. It’s like if the characters encounter a problem – oh no! let’s introduce this in to help ’em out – BAM, everything’s fine and happy.

The one thing I did like about the book though, was the amount of plot twists (however small and insignificant they may have been). It gave the book an extra level of enjoyment through the rather bland storyline. I just wish Messenger would have expanded on those plot twists instead of making them easily solvable problems.

Oh, and before I leave – there’s a love square in this book. Yes, you heard me right. A love SQUARE, because love triangles were sooooo last week. Minus one star just for this.

tldr: Has lot of potential that was not quite met; an easy read and enjoyable book. Recommended for middle schoolers. 

Shatter Me

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

★★ 1.5/5

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I picked up this book after hearing about how the cover is similar to the original cover of The Throne of Glass (y’know: “I -could-kill-you-now-but-let-me-make-sure-my-dress-is-clean-and-my-hair-is-perfect”).

I was disappointed to an extent. This book is a romance. Not dystopian.

(read more for possible spoilers)

Liebster Award Nomination

First of all I’d like to thank Dancing Through the Pages for nominating  me for the Liebster Award! I’ve made this book blog for nearly a week and I’ve already made friends – yay! (EDIT: I also got nominated by thebodaciousbookbabe so thank you for that!)

The Liebster award is basically a way of getting to know blogs with 200 or less followers (that’s me!). Whoever created it – a big clap on the back for you and THANK YOU! (:

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Here are the rules:

Link and thank the blogger that nominated you

Answer the 11 questions your nominator gives you

Tag 11 other bloggers who have 200 or less followers

Ask the 11 nominated bloggers 11 questions and tell them you’ve nominated them

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Onto Kelly’s 11 questions:

1. What was the last book that made you cry?

The Blood of Olympus. I cried when I got it, and I cried when it ended.

2. What is a really underrated book that you would love to see on the big screen? Why?

Wow, this is actually pretty hard! I’d love to see the Throne of Glass series on the big screen, but that’s pretty popular and I’m sure it’s coming. Next is probably Eon. I don’t think that’s underrated though either. Anyways, they both have *AWESOME* protagonists and a gripping plot and I’m sure it’ll do well on screen.

3. What is something in a book that has to be well-done for you to like it? (For me, it’s characterization.) Is it plot, setting, characters, etc?

Depends on the genre, but for fiction: Firstly, the book needs an engaging plot. A book with no plot is like an apple without a core. Then the characters. I won’t waste my time reading about whiny / fake / stupid characters. They need to be real and understandable, so I can connect to them, stand in their shoes and feel what they’re feeling. Another important one for me is grammar/spelling/writing. I tend to stop concentrating on reading when I pick out a grammar error. It’s like, “You put so much effort into publishing it and there’s an error?!” I almost feel sad 😦 And I hate it when the writing is repetitive. Like hello, there’s a thing called The Thesaurus!

4. Is there a book that you consider your guilty pleasure? If so, why?

Hmm…this is a hard one….probably one of those kiddie books that are really [lame] for people my age but I still cry and laugh over them just for the sake of it. For instance, I’m pretty sure I’ll still read the Rainbow Fairies and root for the fairies to win. Or those books that you know are badly written or cliché but you still like reading them because of, well, because. I don’t even think I’m making sense right now. But you get the idea.

5. What is your favorite book setting? (Stuff like this -> Fantasy AU, Boarding School, Hollywood, New York, Foreign Countries, etc.)

Definitely Fantasy AU. Second is (tentatively) a high school setting if it’s done right because I’m in high school now and I can sooooort of relate to it.

6. What is a book that you want to read purely for the cover?

I wanted to read Snow Like Ashes, but you see how that turned out. Never judge a book by it’s cover! But I guess my next pretty-book-cover target is Talon by Julie Kagawa. I haven’t read any books by her but I’ve seen mixed reviews so I’ll see how it goes (:

7. Is there a book that you’ve tried to read innumerable times but have never been able to finish? What is it?

Heh, not really because I try my best to finish every book I read. It’s the best I can do to show the author the respect that s/he deserves and you know, everybody has different tastes and whatnot so I always to my best to *try* and view each book in a positive light. The closest book I’ve come to DNFing is probably Twilight a few years ago. I feel sorta ashamed that I finished it tbh, but my friends kept nagging me so it took me a record six months to get through it. Man, just thinking about it gives me bad memories.
“you’re cold and shiny”
“i hate your scent”
“i love you”
“i could eat ya right now”

8. What is your OTP (One True Pairing)?

My three OTPs are: Percabeth. PercyxAnnabeth. Percaabeeeeeth. Nuff said.

9. Why and when did you start your book blog?

I started my book blog roughly a week ago, because I’ve always wanted to share my opinions about books and decided a book blog was the best way to go! It also serves as a healthy place for me to rant if needed 😉

10. If you estimate, what is most books you’ve ever checked out from your library?

Six at a time. I was super cool and proud too, because the limit was actually 4 but I got voted as the library monitor so I could borrow 2 more than the norm. ❤

11. What is your favorite type of post to write for your blog?

Reviews! (because I get to use my GIFS)

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Whew! Now onto the nominations! I’m passing it to these 11 awesome peeps:

Sarah in Wonderland

Thunder Tumbler

Cat and Caterpillar Reviews

insidemybookshelf

Bookaholic’s Blog

PhantomhiveSky

Cup of Crazy

bongbongbooks

Bookworm Coalition

PriyankaReads

fatimaandhooriyaread

And if you’ve done it, then it just means that you’re extra awesome. If you haven’t then you should! It’s fun! Here are my 11 questions:

1) Which book you would recommend to anyone?

2) What is your favorite quote from a book?

3) Who is your favorite author and why?

4) How do you usually read your books (ebook, audiobook, paperback, etc)?

5) If you could be a character from a book, who would it be and why?

6) What is a book that you’ve been disappointed in?

7) Have you ever gotten signed copies of books? Which ones?

8) What is your favorite genre to read?

9) What is the worst “school book” (books for school or are common in school curriculums) you’ve read?

10) Do you judge a book more by it’s cover or blurb?

11) Why did you start your book blog?

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Happy reading, answering, tagging, etc.!

~Karen

 

 

The Lunar Chronicles: Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

4.5/5

I know I said I’d write a review about Shatter Me, but I just read this book and it’s so flipping good that I’ll have to cut the line. /sorrynotsorry

So basically, this is a retelling of Cinderella. I usually dislike fairytale retellings. Like, why can’t you people create a story of your own or something??? But the blurb really intrigued me (Beijing. Cyborgs. Interstellar Politics. What could possibly go wrong?) so I got a copy and ohmygods I am so glad I did.

Linh Cinder, our cyborg protagonist, is just a plain old mechanic with a plain old life. She’s the “Cinderella” in case that wasn’t obvious (Cinder -Cinderella) but that changes when she meets sweet Prince Kai and gets drafted to go test some deadly disease that has been spreading.

I won’t go into much more detail about the plot because it would spoil stuff for you guys, but I will tell you why I loved it so much.

A) THE CHARACTERS. Especially Cinder. She’s a strong girl who wants the best for herself and those that care for her. All the characters were great except for Adri and Pearl (step mother and step sister respectively, but that’s expected).

B) THE SETTING/WORLD. I can’t get over how cool it is!!! Like seriously? Cyborgs, androids, ID chips (Yes – we have those – but they use these for everyday living, not only as identification, but also as a tracking device, credit card, family lineage, basically everything) not to mention how the world is still the world as we know it today but is split up as the “Commonwealth” and all the stuff in space. Beyond cool. Awesome in fact. It almost reminds me of Ender’s Game.

The only con is the plot. It’s a Cinderella-based-storyline so it’s going not going to be a roller coaster. You know where the story is going. The so-called twist was also extremely predictable.

Literally this happens.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it.

tldr: Amazing. You should definitely give it a try no matter what.
I’m off to get the next book ASAP.

 

The Perilous Sea

★★★★★ 5/5

The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas

Summary:

After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by a blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny—especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in.

Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that makes him question everything he previously believed about their mission. Faced with this devastating realization, Iolanthe is forced to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother’s prophecies—and forging a divergent path to an unknowable future.

 

This is like the YA Version of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss but better! Ahhh! I seriously can’t get enough of Sherry Thomas and her amazing writing (and to think that English was her second language)!

This is the sequel to The Burning Sky (which you absolutely must read before this — it’s AMAZING) that continues the storyline. Thomas writes in two timelines simultaneously (the past and the present), leaving cliffies in every chapter.

Once you start reading, you seriously cannot stop (or die trying). It’s just continuous plot twist after twist to the point where you begin to wonder if Thomas has anything left for the final book. The characters are developed so much more and things suddenly become a lot more complicated than they seem. Tbh, I didn’t expect this book to be great. I’ve read plenty of series where the first book is amazing but then it slowly…dwindles…down…But no worries – this isn’t the case here!

I can’t wait for the final book. I wish this could be more than a trilogy 😦

 

tldr: I highly recommend this book (make sure to read The Burning Sky first though). An exciting journey from start to finish. 

Recommend for: High Fantasy/Magic readers

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Pros:
-Learn about Greek Mythology.
-Awesome characters.
-Amazing plot.
-Logan Lerman as Percy Jackson in the movies.

Cons:
-None.

This is my all time favorite series (with Harry Potter coming in a close second). After you read this, you’ll start saying “Oh my gods” instead of “Oh my god” and you’ll cuss in terms of Greek mythology (Holy Hera, Hade’s Underpants, etc) and you’ll start believing that you’re a demigod with superpowers and you’ll want to know your godly parent.

Signing off,
Daughter of Poseidon
Member of the Huntresses

 

Chasing Power

★★ 2/5

Chasing Power by Sarah Beth Durst

Link to:

• Goodreads
• Amazon

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*I received an ARC through Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.*

Expectations: Haagen Dazs Ice Cream [The COVER. It’s so pretty! (read: Snow Like Ashes). But the book had NOTHING to do with the cover, I don’t even know how they came up with it.]
Reality: McDonalds Soft Serve [It was bad, but I sort of enjoyed it.]

The book summed up:
Girl has power. Guy has power. Girl and guy chases stones. The end.

It was bland. The plot was repetitive and mostly predictable (the protagonists spend most of the book jumping to stones, aka “power”). The characters are shallow and undeveloped, for instance I never liked Kayla or swooned over dreamy-stalker boy Daniel. The book has potential. Sarah Beth Durst just hasn’t been Chasing [that] Potential.

Why did I enjoy it then, you ask? Well, the inner fan girl enjoyed the sappy romance (and occasional humor) and THANK GODS THERES NO LOVE TRIANGLE!

+1 star for the cover and no love triangle.
+1 star for enjoyment.

tldr: Not a good book but enjoyable & totally unrelated to the cover. Can’t think of any similar books at the moment. Mind too tired from all the jumping from stone to stone stuff.

 

The Young Elites

Wish the cover could match the awesomeness of the book.

★★★★★ 5/5

Summary:

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

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.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

 

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I’m not a fan of the Legend series by Marie Lu. I tried and gave up.

But I did love her new book, The Young Elites. I love it so much that I might give Legend another go. It’s very different from most other standard YA Fantasy novels because it’s dark and we follow the story of the villain.

She’s had a rough childhood of abuse from her father. She’s survived a deadly disease. She’s missing an eye. She’s an outcast. She’s a killer, free to think her own dark thoughts and she’s got power.

This book has everything a YA Fantasy novel needs. A plot to overtake the kingdom by a rebel group. Characters that can’t easily be characterized. An interesting magic system. An intricate world. And last but not least, plot twists and a cliffhanger that will make you desperate for the next book. 

I want the next book. NOW.

Highly recommend this book to fans of the Throne of Glass series and Harry Potter series.

Snow Like Ashes

★★ 2/5

Sigh. Such a pretty cover! And I got so hyped up over it too.

I was quite disappointed (I did set my expectations higher because of the cover) but regardless, it’s still a bland book. Bland storyline. Bland characters. (continue reading for possible spoilers and a tldr)

Harry Potter

Harry Potter:

★★★★★ 5/5

Close to perfection. The ultimate fiction/fantasy book for readers of all ages. Do I even need to write a review for this?

Go read the series, or Harry will keep rolling his eyes at you.

I’ll admit it. I got so bored in the middle of the first book (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone/Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) that I gave up and DNF. Then I picked up the book again a month later and it was AMAZING! I guess my brain couldn’t comprehend all the amazingness packed into those pages the first time. And then of course I got the other 6 books and read them ASAP.

Oh my gods I get it now.

So if you get lost in the first reading, DON’T GIVE UP. Read it a second time and let yourself be captivated by the world of Harry Potter.