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**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
The Night We Said Yes is Author Lauren Gibaldi's debut book. It is a really fun and cute story about a group of friends about to graduate high school. I love the layout and idea behind the story. The Night We Said Yes is told on two parallel timelines, featuring two different nights about a year apart from each other. Each night features the same group of friends, and each night is a night of saying yes. Meaning that whatever any one of the friends suggested doing, they did it. I love the idea of a night where you have to say yes to everything because you have no idea where it is going to lead to. Anything could happen. The Night We Said Yes is told in alternating chapters between the Now night and the Then night from a year prior. it was really cool reading back and forth between the two nights. I think I liked "then" night more, but I was more anxious to read the "now" chapters because I really wanted to know how things were going to turn out between some of characters.
There is a cute romantic element in the Night we Said Yes as well. Ella, the main character and the narrator for the story, met a guy in the "then" night. And sometime after he left town and she basically never heard from him again until he showed up in the now time line. I liked Matt. I liked that he tried to hard to make Ella have fun and to grab back some of their cute moments from before. But I have to say that I didn't really like the reason he left without a word. I understood where he was coming from, but I still felt like he could have kept in touch. (Side Note: one of the questions from the Q& A with Lauren revealed that she changed the reason that Matt left multiple times. I wonder what some of the other reasons were?)
The Night We Said Yes is such a fun book that made me reminisce about summer breaks after high school and during college. Hanging out with friends during summer did kind of make you feel like anything could happen. This book made me want to go back and relive some of those nights, and maybe grab some friends and have a Night We Say Yes now too! Next, Lauren is coming out with a novella from Matt's point of view, where we get to see what he was up to in that year that he went away. I think that will be a fun addition to The Night We Said Yes. I think this is a great story of friendship, growing up, and a need to read summer book for anyone. Oh heck, I am going to go for it- Say YES to The Night We Said Yes!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The Night We Said Yes is Author Lauren Gibaldi's debut book. It is a really fun and cute story about a group of friends about to graduate high school. I love the layout and idea behind the story. The Night We Said Yes is told on two parallel timelines, featuring two different nights about a year apart from each other. Each night features the same group of friends, and each night is a night of saying yes. Meaning that whatever any one of the friends suggested doing, they did it. I love the idea of a night where you have to say yes to everything because you have no idea where it is going to lead to. Anything could happen. The Night We Said Yes is told in alternating chapters between the Now night and the Then night from a year prior. it was really cool reading back and forth between the two nights. I think I liked "then" night more, but I was more anxious to read the "now" chapters because I really wanted to know how things were going to turn out between some of characters.
There is a cute romantic element in the Night we Said Yes as well. Ella, the main character and the narrator for the story, met a guy in the "then" night. And sometime after he left town and she basically never heard from him again until he showed up in the now time line. I liked Matt. I liked that he tried to hard to make Ella have fun and to grab back some of their cute moments from before. But I have to say that I didn't really like the reason he left without a word. I understood where he was coming from, but I still felt like he could have kept in touch. (Side Note: one of the questions from the Q& A with Lauren revealed that she changed the reason that Matt left multiple times. I wonder what some of the other reasons were?)
The Night We Said Yes is such a fun book that made me reminisce about summer breaks after high school and during college. Hanging out with friends during summer did kind of make you feel like anything could happen. This book made me want to go back and relive some of those nights, and maybe grab some friends and have a Night We Say Yes now too! Next, Lauren is coming out with a novella from Matt's point of view, where we get to see what he was up to in that year that he went away. I think that will be a fun addition to The Night We Said Yes. I think this is a great story of friendship, growing up, and a need to read summer book for anyone. Oh heck, I am going to go for it- Say YES to The Night We Said Yes!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Compulsion is one heck of a read. I can see this book, and trilogy, appealing to so many different kinds of readers. It will appeal to fans of romance, mystery, as well as fans of creepy/dark books. It is labeled as a southern gothic. I can't say that I have had too much experience in this particular genre, but if they are all like Compulsion, I need to start reading more of them. Compulsion was great. It had so many layers and such a depth to its' story.
You really had to pay attention or you would miss something. Compulsion really builds and builds so read each page carefully. A few times I felt myself getting swept up in the story and reading quicker and quicker to find out what was going to happen next and then before I knew it I felt a little lost, like I had missed something. The book actually started out that way for me. The name Mark was thrown around by the main character for like two or three chapters before I actually had any idea what his relation to Barrie was. But I think the author made some details and story aspects obscure on purpose to add to the mysterious atmosphere of the book. Once I got a couple of chapters in, knew who Mark was and found Barrie describing the pull she felt towards finding "lost" things, I knew this book was a keeper. I was hooked from that point on.
The story is crazy good, and it just keeps unfolding. Right when you think there couldn't possibly be any more, there is. I loved learning about the three plantation families, and the curse of the fire carrier. I loved seeing the Watson and Beaufort gift. I want Eight's gift more than Barrie's, that's for sure. The romance between Barrie and Eight is great as well. There are a lot of character in Compulsion, and I feel like there will only be more as the story continues, so there are a lot to keep track of. When you throw in spirits and all of the family tree members of the three families, it was a little hard to keep track of them all the time. Especially with how intertwined the three families are. Can anyone say drama and scandal galore? I ate it all up.
The characters are fantastic. I wasn't crazy about Barrie's name. It took me a while to get used to the main girl as a Barrie. But once you move past that, there are a whole cast of characters for you to either love or hate. I loved most of them. I had a love/hate relationship with Barrie's cousin, Cassie. But no matter which side you turn up on with her, there is no denying that she is an excellent addition to the story. Overall, I was so impressed with Martina Boone's creation in Compulsion. I loved the mixture of magic, curses, romance and just plain creepiness. It is a book that has left an impression on me, and I can't wait to see what she will bring us next.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Compulsion is one heck of a read. I can see this book, and trilogy, appealing to so many different kinds of readers. It will appeal to fans of romance, mystery, as well as fans of creepy/dark books. It is labeled as a southern gothic. I can't say that I have had too much experience in this particular genre, but if they are all like Compulsion, I need to start reading more of them. Compulsion was great. It had so many layers and such a depth to its' story.
You really had to pay attention or you would miss something. Compulsion really builds and builds so read each page carefully. A few times I felt myself getting swept up in the story and reading quicker and quicker to find out what was going to happen next and then before I knew it I felt a little lost, like I had missed something. The book actually started out that way for me. The name Mark was thrown around by the main character for like two or three chapters before I actually had any idea what his relation to Barrie was. But I think the author made some details and story aspects obscure on purpose to add to the mysterious atmosphere of the book. Once I got a couple of chapters in, knew who Mark was and found Barrie describing the pull she felt towards finding "lost" things, I knew this book was a keeper. I was hooked from that point on.
The story is crazy good, and it just keeps unfolding. Right when you think there couldn't possibly be any more, there is. I loved learning about the three plantation families, and the curse of the fire carrier. I loved seeing the Watson and Beaufort gift. I want Eight's gift more than Barrie's, that's for sure. The romance between Barrie and Eight is great as well. There are a lot of character in Compulsion, and I feel like there will only be more as the story continues, so there are a lot to keep track of. When you throw in spirits and all of the family tree members of the three families, it was a little hard to keep track of them all the time. Especially with how intertwined the three families are. Can anyone say drama and scandal galore? I ate it all up.
The characters are fantastic. I wasn't crazy about Barrie's name. It took me a while to get used to the main girl as a Barrie. But once you move past that, there are a whole cast of characters for you to either love or hate. I loved most of them. I had a love/hate relationship with Barrie's cousin, Cassie. But no matter which side you turn up on with her, there is no denying that she is an excellent addition to the story. Overall, I was so impressed with Martina Boone's creation in Compulsion. I loved the mixture of magic, curses, romance and just plain creepiness. It is a book that has left an impression on me, and I can't wait to see what she will bring us next.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**Siren's Fury is the second book in the young adult fantasy trilogy series by the same name. I absolutely LOVED the first book, Storm Siren. It was one of my favorite books of 2014. So I was super excited for Siren's Fury to come out. Especially since Storm Siren ended on one um-dinger of a cliff hanger. I am starting to think that Mary Weber loves torturing us because Siren's Fury both started out and ended with something that just about stopped my heart. I absolutely loved the ending though. I may or may not have actually hugged the book when I was done. #IsThatWeird?
Siren's Fury is not as heavy on the romance as the first one was. Rather, it is focused on the mounting war aspects and building up the history of the various nations involved. Mary Weber is a world building genius in my opinion. Her writing is not overt, but the magic is in the way that she subtly weaves in so many details, that this wildly different world felt so real to me that I swear it was like I was learning about these nations in a history class. Even their own histories felt rich, and complex and so real. I will say that you do need to read these books carefully, and preferably back to back or at least close together, because the details and names are all a lot to grasp and catalog. It took me a little bit of time to re-gain my bearings in the world, but once I did, I was completely absorbed in Siren's Fury.
And can we just talk for a second about those covers? I just want to pet them over and over again. They are so pretty. And this one fits in so perfectly with the new power that is at play in the book. Speaking of the new power, there are oh-so-many things that I want to say in this review, that I just can't because the whole plot of this book is wrapped around one huge spoiler. And I don't want to do anything to ruin it. But I will say that Mary Weber flat out ripped the heart out of my chest in the first couple of chapters. I almost put the book down, I was so distraught. But if you are like me, KEEP READING. Trust me on that. This book is a little light on the romance, so be warned in that aspect, but I doubt you will notice all that much, because there is so much going on elsewhere with the plot.
Siren's Fury is an excellent addition to the Storm Siren world. History buffs will really get into this book. And yes, I know that it is not history of our countries and our world, but I swear I felt like I was back in some of my history seminars in college. I absolutely loved it. History and fantasy seamlessly woven into one kick ass young adult novel. I loved Siren's Fury and I cannot wait to get my hands on the final book in the trilogy. (is it too late to turn this into a longer series Mary?? Please, I will give you a cookie...)
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Siren's Fury is not as heavy on the romance as the first one was. Rather, it is focused on the mounting war aspects and building up the history of the various nations involved. Mary Weber is a world building genius in my opinion. Her writing is not overt, but the magic is in the way that she subtly weaves in so many details, that this wildly different world felt so real to me that I swear it was like I was learning about these nations in a history class. Even their own histories felt rich, and complex and so real. I will say that you do need to read these books carefully, and preferably back to back or at least close together, because the details and names are all a lot to grasp and catalog. It took me a little bit of time to re-gain my bearings in the world, but once I did, I was completely absorbed in Siren's Fury.
And can we just talk for a second about those covers? I just want to pet them over and over again. They are so pretty. And this one fits in so perfectly with the new power that is at play in the book. Speaking of the new power, there are oh-so-many things that I want to say in this review, that I just can't because the whole plot of this book is wrapped around one huge spoiler. And I don't want to do anything to ruin it. But I will say that Mary Weber flat out ripped the heart out of my chest in the first couple of chapters. I almost put the book down, I was so distraught. But if you are like me, KEEP READING. Trust me on that. This book is a little light on the romance, so be warned in that aspect, but I doubt you will notice all that much, because there is so much going on elsewhere with the plot.
Siren's Fury is an excellent addition to the Storm Siren world. History buffs will really get into this book. And yes, I know that it is not history of our countries and our world, but I swear I felt like I was back in some of my history seminars in college. I absolutely loved it. History and fantasy seamlessly woven into one kick ass young adult novel. I loved Siren's Fury and I cannot wait to get my hands on the final book in the trilogy. (is it too late to turn this into a longer series Mary?? Please, I will give you a cookie...)
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Storm Siren is going to be one of the Young Adult Fantasy greats. The kind of book that people are still talking about years from now and the kind of book where the hype gets bigger and bigger for each book. It already is that way for me. I absolutely loved this book! I devoured in one sitting. I was waiting to get my car repaired and it was the only time that I wasn't bored to tears in the waiting room. The book started off on the right note for me- it had a map of the world right at the start of the book. Personally, I think this should be a necessary addition to every fantasy book creating a new world. It just helps me paint the picture of the lands in my mind. So when the author is throwing out new locations and people, you are not as confused.
I loved the world that Mary Weber created. There are a lot a new names, and like any fantasy book, it takes a minute to gain your bearings in the new world, but Mary does a fantastic job immersing you within the culture right away. I never felt overly lost. I did wish for a little more back story on each of the different lands, but I think we will learn more in the next book. The action in the book starts in the very first chapter and we get a glimpse into the incredible powers that Nym has. She is a forbidden creature- an elemental and she can control storms and weather. Elementals are normally men and are killed on sight, so no one knows what exactly to make of her. She is a slave and after a fiasco at her slave auction, she is bought by a wealthy noble woman. That is where the real story starts. Watching Nym's powers develop was one of the most thrilling part of the book for me. She is incredible!
I loved the cast of characters. Nym and Eogan, along with Breck and Collin created a great group. I didn't love Breck as much as I wanted to and I was disappointed with Adora, but there were so many other things going on and characters for me to enjoy that I was never lacking in excitement while reading. I loved the hint of romance with Nym and Eogan. The romance is all about subtlety in this installment, but it plants the seed of much to come in the next book. If we can get past that nasty cliffhanger, that is! The less obvious romance, just made me love Eogan all the more. I can't wait for the next book. It is the kind of series that I know will jump to the top of my reading list whenever a new book comes out.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Storm Siren is going to be one of the Young Adult Fantasy greats. The kind of book that people are still talking about years from now and the kind of book where the hype gets bigger and bigger for each book. It already is that way for me. I absolutely loved this book! I devoured in one sitting. I was waiting to get my car repaired and it was the only time that I wasn't bored to tears in the waiting room. The book started off on the right note for me- it had a map of the world right at the start of the book. Personally, I think this should be a necessary addition to every fantasy book creating a new world. It just helps me paint the picture of the lands in my mind. So when the author is throwing out new locations and people, you are not as confused.
I loved the world that Mary Weber created. There are a lot a new names, and like any fantasy book, it takes a minute to gain your bearings in the new world, but Mary does a fantastic job immersing you within the culture right away. I never felt overly lost. I did wish for a little more back story on each of the different lands, but I think we will learn more in the next book. The action in the book starts in the very first chapter and we get a glimpse into the incredible powers that Nym has. She is a forbidden creature- an elemental and she can control storms and weather. Elementals are normally men and are killed on sight, so no one knows what exactly to make of her. She is a slave and after a fiasco at her slave auction, she is bought by a wealthy noble woman. That is where the real story starts. Watching Nym's powers develop was one of the most thrilling part of the book for me. She is incredible!
I loved the cast of characters. Nym and Eogan, along with Breck and Collin created a great group. I didn't love Breck as much as I wanted to and I was disappointed with Adora, but there were so many other things going on and characters for me to enjoy that I was never lacking in excitement while reading. I loved the hint of romance with Nym and Eogan. The romance is all about subtlety in this installment, but it plants the seed of much to come in the next book. If we can get past that nasty cliffhanger, that is! The less obvious romance, just made me love Eogan all the more. I can't wait for the next book. It is the kind of series that I know will jump to the top of my reading list whenever a new book comes out.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
The Description of Mortal Danger drew me in almost instantly. I was so excited to read it. And then I committed the cardinal sin of book reviewers...I glanced at some goodreads reviews. And I saw that people were polarized on this story, they either loved it or they DNF-ed it. And I got nervous. But I am happy to say that I really enjoyed Mortal Dangers and I can't wait to continue the series. Now, it should also be said that I understand why some people did not finish this book. The start of the book does make the main character seem pretty shallow. I felt bad for her but I could see where her single-minded plot for revenge on her classmates could seem off putting. But the book is so much better than that initial impression!
The main character, Edie grows so much in this book. And actually, that first kind of shallow impression is a huge theme in the book. I think the author does a fantastic job of blowing all of those stereotypes out of the water. Watching Edie get to know the people beneath the meanness was a great way to handle the plot, in my opinion. Plus, the world that Ann Aguirre created was so dark and sinister and utterly riveting. I am dying to learn more about the "players" in the "game". The whole book had such a dark and mysterious vibe. I loved it.
I felt so bad for Edie. This girl has had it really rough. I can't believe the lengths that some of these bullies went to, to get to her. It was hard to reconcile some of how they treated her in the past with some of the awful things that happened to them in the later parts of the book. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad about it. But I will say one thing, this book really made me think. What would I have done in Edie's situation? I really am not sure. Edie is such a strong character that questions everything. She takes nothing at face value and she is whip smart. I love that about her so much.
Ann Aguirre does not hold any punches with anyone in the story. She is not afraid to make some bold moves and to kill anyone off. Mortal Danger is intense, creepy, and one heck of a ride. I am so excited to find out what is going to happen in the next book. There are characters that I hate, characters that I love, and the romance is so up in the air right now that I need to see what is going to happen. Mortal Danger is a fascinating new world that is so worth a read. I am glad that I stuck out this book and didn't listen to the DNF's because it was a book that just kept getting better and better all the way until the very last page.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The Description of Mortal Danger drew me in almost instantly. I was so excited to read it. And then I committed the cardinal sin of book reviewers...I glanced at some goodreads reviews. And I saw that people were polarized on this story, they either loved it or they DNF-ed it. And I got nervous. But I am happy to say that I really enjoyed Mortal Dangers and I can't wait to continue the series. Now, it should also be said that I understand why some people did not finish this book. The start of the book does make the main character seem pretty shallow. I felt bad for her but I could see where her single-minded plot for revenge on her classmates could seem off putting. But the book is so much better than that initial impression!
The main character, Edie grows so much in this book. And actually, that first kind of shallow impression is a huge theme in the book. I think the author does a fantastic job of blowing all of those stereotypes out of the water. Watching Edie get to know the people beneath the meanness was a great way to handle the plot, in my opinion. Plus, the world that Ann Aguirre created was so dark and sinister and utterly riveting. I am dying to learn more about the "players" in the "game". The whole book had such a dark and mysterious vibe. I loved it.
I felt so bad for Edie. This girl has had it really rough. I can't believe the lengths that some of these bullies went to, to get to her. It was hard to reconcile some of how they treated her in the past with some of the awful things that happened to them in the later parts of the book. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad about it. But I will say one thing, this book really made me think. What would I have done in Edie's situation? I really am not sure. Edie is such a strong character that questions everything. She takes nothing at face value and she is whip smart. I love that about her so much.
Ann Aguirre does not hold any punches with anyone in the story. She is not afraid to make some bold moves and to kill anyone off. Mortal Danger is intense, creepy, and one heck of a ride. I am so excited to find out what is going to happen in the next book. There are characters that I hate, characters that I love, and the romance is so up in the air right now that I need to see what is going to happen. Mortal Danger is a fascinating new world that is so worth a read. I am glad that I stuck out this book and didn't listen to the DNF's because it was a book that just kept getting better and better all the way until the very last page.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
The Cinderella Theorem overall was a really great read. I had a few small issues with the book early, but they were minor things and I am so glad that I didn't let them get in the way of enjoying the story, because this was a book that just kept getting better and better. I loved the concept of the story and the main character, Lily was a delight. Lily loves math, she likes logic and she likes being able to get the same answer every time she does the same problem. I loved her commentary throughout the story, told through math equations and footnotes. It was so funny.
Lily Sparrow is just a normal high school student when she comes home on her 15th birthday to find out that her dad is not dead like she thought, but rather the ruler of a magical land where all fairy tale characters go to live out their "happily ever after". A cool concept but it was in this initial phase that I had a couple of minor problems. First up, Lily's mom. Her mom is very nice and it is easy to see that she really cares for her daughter, but her flippant almost ditzy way that she dealt with telling Lily this crazy magical story was annoying. She didn't want to explain everything, she just expected her daughter to be fine with dead dad showing up out of no where, in her bathtub no less. And then she expected her to automatically understand all the crazy magical ins and outs of the land with no questions asked. Her dad was more understanding about the whole thing. The other small issue I had, was that I wasn't crazy about the name for the land. But other than that, I really loved the book.
The plot revolved around the happiness levels of the characters. Since each fairy tale character was supposed to live out their HEA, if they became truly sad they were in danger of disappearing. And if all characters in a story disappeared, then the story also disappeared from our world's records. When characters start disappearing left and right, Lily has to get to the bottom of it. I loved it. Mostly because Lily. She was such a treat for me. I loved her voice in the story. I hope the next book is done in the same fashion, with her math equations and footnote commentary throughout. That was my favorite. There was only a tiny hint at a romance to come, one that I hope is explored more in the next book. I can't wait to discover more Lily Sparrow!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The Cinderella Theorem overall was a really great read. I had a few small issues with the book early, but they were minor things and I am so glad that I didn't let them get in the way of enjoying the story, because this was a book that just kept getting better and better. I loved the concept of the story and the main character, Lily was a delight. Lily loves math, she likes logic and she likes being able to get the same answer every time she does the same problem. I loved her commentary throughout the story, told through math equations and footnotes. It was so funny.
Lily Sparrow is just a normal high school student when she comes home on her 15th birthday to find out that her dad is not dead like she thought, but rather the ruler of a magical land where all fairy tale characters go to live out their "happily ever after". A cool concept but it was in this initial phase that I had a couple of minor problems. First up, Lily's mom. Her mom is very nice and it is easy to see that she really cares for her daughter, but her flippant almost ditzy way that she dealt with telling Lily this crazy magical story was annoying. She didn't want to explain everything, she just expected her daughter to be fine with dead dad showing up out of no where, in her bathtub no less. And then she expected her to automatically understand all the crazy magical ins and outs of the land with no questions asked. Her dad was more understanding about the whole thing. The other small issue I had, was that I wasn't crazy about the name for the land. But other than that, I really loved the book.
The plot revolved around the happiness levels of the characters. Since each fairy tale character was supposed to live out their HEA, if they became truly sad they were in danger of disappearing. And if all characters in a story disappeared, then the story also disappeared from our world's records. When characters start disappearing left and right, Lily has to get to the bottom of it. I loved it. Mostly because Lily. She was such a treat for me. I loved her voice in the story. I hope the next book is done in the same fashion, with her math equations and footnote commentary throughout. That was my favorite. There was only a tiny hint at a romance to come, one that I hope is explored more in the next book. I can't wait to discover more Lily Sparrow!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
I can't even tell you how excited I was for The Vault of Dreamers. I think most of you know by now that I am a little bit obsessed with reality tv. It is kind of like big brother, but instead of a house it is a school for the ultra artsy people. Nothing is as it seems in the Forge school though. The students each have their own live stream and people can choose which student to watch. An interesting concept for sure, that is just the tip of the iceberg. This book just kept growing and growing and changing. I never knew what to expect. Jen from YA Romantics described it as inception meets big brother, and I think that is the perfect way to describe it. (so credit to her for that!) It was a really interesting pairing for me, and the reality aspect mixed in with the dream harvesting. I couldn't put this book down.
We join Rosie on the day where the students with the 50 lowest popularity ranks or "blip scores" from amount of viewers their channel get are sent home from the school. She was pretty close from the bottom but she gets creative on her last day and raises her score just enough to stay by doing all sorts of things. This was actually my only hold up with book. I felt like she could have tried some new things before her possible last day. But other than that I really don't have any complaints. I loved how creative The Vault of Dreamers was.
Rosie is a curious girl. And when they get the assignment to fail at a project Rosie thinks it is the perfect cover to spy on the Forge school from the inside. I really liked Rosie's friends as well. I thought it was funny that at first Rosie thought Janice was kind of fake, because she was so genuinely nice. So was Burnham. I really hope there is more from him in the next book. I liked him just as much as Linus. (sometimes even more)
From the title it is clear something is going on with dreams. The forge school forces 12 hours of obligatory sleep on the students, stating that they need that much to optimize their creativity. They give the students sleep pills every night. Rosie sometimes skips hers to stay awake, and that is what gets her in trouble. I was so impressed with everything that Caragh O’Brien dreamed up. It was so imaginative and incredible really. There were so many times where I was questioning it all. This book is inception meets Big Brother, with maybe just a touch of Shutter Island thrown in to keep you off your game. Maybe. Maybe not. What is real, and what isn't? I bet you won't be able to figure it all out without any doubt creeping in. And that my friends, is what makes Vault of Dreamers BRILLIANT! You will just have to read Vault of Dreamers to find out.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
I can't even tell you how excited I was for The Vault of Dreamers. I think most of you know by now that I am a little bit obsessed with reality tv. It is kind of like big brother, but instead of a house it is a school for the ultra artsy people. Nothing is as it seems in the Forge school though. The students each have their own live stream and people can choose which student to watch. An interesting concept for sure, that is just the tip of the iceberg. This book just kept growing and growing and changing. I never knew what to expect. Jen from YA Romantics described it as inception meets big brother, and I think that is the perfect way to describe it. (so credit to her for that!) It was a really interesting pairing for me, and the reality aspect mixed in with the dream harvesting. I couldn't put this book down.
We join Rosie on the day where the students with the 50 lowest popularity ranks or "blip scores" from amount of viewers their channel get are sent home from the school. She was pretty close from the bottom but she gets creative on her last day and raises her score just enough to stay by doing all sorts of things. This was actually my only hold up with book. I felt like she could have tried some new things before her possible last day. But other than that I really don't have any complaints. I loved how creative The Vault of Dreamers was.
Rosie is a curious girl. And when they get the assignment to fail at a project Rosie thinks it is the perfect cover to spy on the Forge school from the inside. I really liked Rosie's friends as well. I thought it was funny that at first Rosie thought Janice was kind of fake, because she was so genuinely nice. So was Burnham. I really hope there is more from him in the next book. I liked him just as much as Linus. (sometimes even more)
From the title it is clear something is going on with dreams. The forge school forces 12 hours of obligatory sleep on the students, stating that they need that much to optimize their creativity. They give the students sleep pills every night. Rosie sometimes skips hers to stay awake, and that is what gets her in trouble. I was so impressed with everything that Caragh O’Brien dreamed up. It was so imaginative and incredible really. There were so many times where I was questioning it all. This book is inception meets Big Brother, with maybe just a touch of Shutter Island thrown in to keep you off your game. Maybe. Maybe not. What is real, and what isn't? I bet you won't be able to figure it all out without any doubt creeping in. And that my friends, is what makes Vault of Dreamers BRILLIANT! You will just have to read Vault of Dreamers to find out.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**See this full review and more at http://bookbriefs.net**
The Shadow Prince is a whopper of a book. It comes in at over 500 pages long , and the only thing I was thinking when I was done with it was, “That wasn’t long enough. I want more!” I love mythology and I really enjoyed all of the attention to mythological details that Bree wove into the story. Mythology really was everywhere, throughout the street names in the town to the class lectures at school. It was an immersion into the stories of Persephone and Hades, which just so happens to be one of my very favorite myths. For example, One of Daphne’s teachers was teaching her class about some versions of the Persephone myth and she was describing a thesis paper she wrote in college and I thought even that sounded fascinating. I would totally read her paper. So I may be a bit of a mythology nerd, but this book is perfect for both mythology enthusiasts like me and newbies alike.
I loved how strong willed Daphne was. She is not going to back down from anything or anyone. But she wasn’t so stubborn as to be pig headed. She could admit when she was wrong. That is a balance that I seldom see in main characters. They are normally all or nothing. And I loved how passionate Daphne was about music. She could see music in everything. It was pretty magical, and Bree made all of it come to life in the story through her descriptive writing. This is a book that would have one of the most killer playlists out there- that’s for sure.
Hayden is chosen as a surprising guardian. Right off the bat he is the underdog and I couldn’t help but root for him. I felt bad about the harsh reactions he drew from everyone in his home court. And throughout the book he kept alluding to this big, bad horrible thing that he did to earn his people’s hatred. It was driving me crazy trying to guess what it was. Watching Hayden fall in love with Daphne was really sweet. You know it is going to happen from the start, but even so it will make you smile. I am pretty in love with them myself.
The Shadow Prince is the first book in the Into the Dark Series, and I already know that I am going to freakin’ LOVE this series. Not only did this book have me on the edge of my seat over the action scenes, but it had me laughing out loud and awh-ing at some of Hayden’s parts. It is told in dual narrative, which served the story well. We got to see a peak into Hayden's head as well as get to see into his world. A great book for fans of mythology and for people who are new to the story of Hades and Persephone. This series is a hit!
The Shadow Prince is a whopper of a book. It comes in at over 500 pages long , and the only thing I was thinking when I was done with it was, “That wasn’t long enough. I want more!” I love mythology and I really enjoyed all of the attention to mythological details that Bree wove into the story. Mythology really was everywhere, throughout the street names in the town to the class lectures at school. It was an immersion into the stories of Persephone and Hades, which just so happens to be one of my very favorite myths. For example, One of Daphne’s teachers was teaching her class about some versions of the Persephone myth and she was describing a thesis paper she wrote in college and I thought even that sounded fascinating. I would totally read her paper. So I may be a bit of a mythology nerd, but this book is perfect for both mythology enthusiasts like me and newbies alike.
I loved how strong willed Daphne was. She is not going to back down from anything or anyone. But she wasn’t so stubborn as to be pig headed. She could admit when she was wrong. That is a balance that I seldom see in main characters. They are normally all or nothing. And I loved how passionate Daphne was about music. She could see music in everything. It was pretty magical, and Bree made all of it come to life in the story through her descriptive writing. This is a book that would have one of the most killer playlists out there- that’s for sure.
Hayden is chosen as a surprising guardian. Right off the bat he is the underdog and I couldn’t help but root for him. I felt bad about the harsh reactions he drew from everyone in his home court. And throughout the book he kept alluding to this big, bad horrible thing that he did to earn his people’s hatred. It was driving me crazy trying to guess what it was. Watching Hayden fall in love with Daphne was really sweet. You know it is going to happen from the start, but even so it will make you smile. I am pretty in love with them myself.
The Shadow Prince is the first book in the Into the Dark Series, and I already know that I am going to freakin’ LOVE this series. Not only did this book have me on the edge of my seat over the action scenes, but it had me laughing out loud and awh-ing at some of Hayden’s parts. It is told in dual narrative, which served the story well. We got to see a peak into Hayden's head as well as get to see into his world. A great book for fans of mythology and for people who are new to the story of Hades and Persephone. This series is a hit!
Book vs. movie review:
The Book
I have no idea why on earth it took me so long to finally get around to reading Divergent. I loved the book. The movie was good too, but as usual, I thought the book was better. It was both a blessing and a curse to have read the book right before I watched the movie. It was cool because I was really pumped up and excited with the story fresh in my mind, but at the same time- the book was fresh in my mind. So every time they deviated from the story line, I instantly noticed. The book was wonderful in it’s own right.
This is one fast paced story line. The action never stopped. I couldn’t believe how much stuff happened in just one book. I mean we went from setting the stage in this new dystopian world all the way to war in one book. It was a lot. I loved Tris. What I love the most about her was what made her a Divergent in the first place. She questions things. She can’t be labeled. And she doesn’t just accept answers on their face value. She wants to know why, and I would be lying if I said that I was any different. And like Tris, it has gotten me into trouble a time or two also.
I’m going to spare you some of the details about what happens plot wise, because I am assuming that I am last person in the YA world to read this book. There were so many things that I liked about the book. I loved watching Tris adapt to dauntless. She really is pretty incredible. She isn’t automatically great at everything she tries, but she is not afraid of working hard and practicing. and she is really brave. I also loved seeing how some of the other dauntless initiates handled the faction change as well. Al was really interesting, and what happened with him made me so sad.
The Movie
I thought the movie did a great job with the sets and making Veronica Roth’s world come to life. I thought they did a fantastic job portraying the different factions. I thought the castings were also great. They were just how I pictured the characters in the book. Tris was fantastic in the movie, just as plucky and brave as she was in the book. Four, Christina and Peter were also all wonderful. (or wonderfully awful in the case of Peter.) Eric was also creepy as heck.
I was super pleased with all of the castings and the world building and the factions. I also thought the relationship between Tris and Four was really well done in the movie. Four was hot! Some smaller storylines were cut out and shifted around for the sake of getting everything into the movie. That didn’t bother me too much. Like I said, there is a TON of stuff that happened in this one book and at 500+ pages, I knew there is no way all the details would make it into the film. But a couple of changes irked me a bit. I was really disappointed that the “test” was cut short. And maybe the most disappointing of all was that we barely got to see Al. We didn’t get to see anything about him and Tris, and we didn’t get to see how he struggled with the initiation. I thought that would have added to the movie overall, and it was a part that I really enjoyed in the book, so I was bummed that they cut that whole storyline out.
One change that I was pleased to see, was that they didn’t really make notice of Tris’ plain or not so pretty appearance. When Four admitted that Tris was not that pretty in the book, it made me sad, so I was happy I didn’t have to relive that in the movie. The obvious change in the ending of the movie was surprising, but I am not sure whether I am annoyed with it or if I like it. I think that might have been a good choice movie wise, but I am still such a fan of staying true to the book. I am still conflicted on this one. It turned out pretty cool, but it was so, so different.
Overall
Both the movie and the book are great! I really, really enjoyed reading and watching Divergent. I think it is going to be a huge hit for the trilogy in theaters. A lot of people are saying that they like it more than the Hunger Games movies, and I don’t know if I would go that far, but I do love the first movie and book a lot. I can’t wait to read the second book because I honestly have no idea where Veronica is going to take the series. I thought the war would come at the end of the second book, but now I am super excited to see what else she has in store for us in books 2 and 3.
Bottom line: the movie was great, and I thought it was pretty perfectly cast, but the book blows the movie out of the water.
The Book
I have no idea why on earth it took me so long to finally get around to reading Divergent. I loved the book. The movie was good too, but as usual, I thought the book was better. It was both a blessing and a curse to have read the book right before I watched the movie. It was cool because I was really pumped up and excited with the story fresh in my mind, but at the same time- the book was fresh in my mind. So every time they deviated from the story line, I instantly noticed. The book was wonderful in it’s own right.
This is one fast paced story line. The action never stopped. I couldn’t believe how much stuff happened in just one book. I mean we went from setting the stage in this new dystopian world all the way to war in one book. It was a lot. I loved Tris. What I love the most about her was what made her a Divergent in the first place. She questions things. She can’t be labeled. And she doesn’t just accept answers on their face value. She wants to know why, and I would be lying if I said that I was any different. And like Tris, it has gotten me into trouble a time or two also.
I’m going to spare you some of the details about what happens plot wise, because I am assuming that I am last person in the YA world to read this book. There were so many things that I liked about the book. I loved watching Tris adapt to dauntless. She really is pretty incredible. She isn’t automatically great at everything she tries, but she is not afraid of working hard and practicing. and she is really brave. I also loved seeing how some of the other dauntless initiates handled the faction change as well. Al was really interesting, and what happened with him made me so sad.
The Movie
I thought the movie did a great job with the sets and making Veronica Roth’s world come to life. I thought they did a fantastic job portraying the different factions. I thought the castings were also great. They were just how I pictured the characters in the book. Tris was fantastic in the movie, just as plucky and brave as she was in the book. Four, Christina and Peter were also all wonderful. (or wonderfully awful in the case of Peter.) Eric was also creepy as heck.
I was super pleased with all of the castings and the world building and the factions. I also thought the relationship between Tris and Four was really well done in the movie. Four was hot! Some smaller storylines were cut out and shifted around for the sake of getting everything into the movie. That didn’t bother me too much. Like I said, there is a TON of stuff that happened in this one book and at 500+ pages, I knew there is no way all the details would make it into the film. But a couple of changes irked me a bit. I was really disappointed that the “test” was cut short. And maybe the most disappointing of all was that we barely got to see Al. We didn’t get to see anything about him and Tris, and we didn’t get to see how he struggled with the initiation. I thought that would have added to the movie overall, and it was a part that I really enjoyed in the book, so I was bummed that they cut that whole storyline out.
One change that I was pleased to see, was that they didn’t really make notice of Tris’ plain or not so pretty appearance. When Four admitted that Tris was not that pretty in the book, it made me sad, so I was happy I didn’t have to relive that in the movie. The obvious change in the ending of the movie was surprising, but I am not sure whether I am annoyed with it or if I like it. I think that might have been a good choice movie wise, but I am still such a fan of staying true to the book. I am still conflicted on this one. It turned out pretty cool, but it was so, so different.
Overall
Both the movie and the book are great! I really, really enjoyed reading and watching Divergent. I think it is going to be a huge hit for the trilogy in theaters. A lot of people are saying that they like it more than the Hunger Games movies, and I don’t know if I would go that far, but I do love the first movie and book a lot. I can’t wait to read the second book because I honestly have no idea where Veronica is going to take the series. I thought the war would come at the end of the second book, but now I am super excited to see what else she has in store for us in books 2 and 3.
Bottom line: the movie was great, and I thought it was pretty perfectly cast, but the book blows the movie out of the water.