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479 reviews by:
readwithmesashamarie
You can find this review along with many others on my blog The Dancing Nerd Writes Again by clicking here .
Initial Thoughts:
I was so excited to start reading Hidden but I was also apprehensive and sad. Reading the last book in a trilogy is always bittersweet and I knew reading the end of the Firelight series would be no different. I was really happy to see that the cover was the most gorgeous one yet, since that is why I originally started reading Firelight. I don’t know how many times I’ll say this, but I am the biggest sucker for a gorgeous cover.
Spoilers!
From the moment this book began, it was action packed! There were escapes, chases, being being captured or killed or injured, up until the last few chapters. I loved how fast paced this book was, but I did feel like some of the regular character interaction and development was missing. I guess since this is the third book, we should know the characters by now, but I still wish there had been a nicer balance between the action sequences and the actual, meaningful dialogue between characters. We didn’t learn anything new about the old characters and we didn’t learn anything new about the new characters either.
Speaking of new characters, Deghan is introduced as a new draki. What I don’t understand (though perhaps I missed this tidbit of information in the previous books) is why he’s so young when Jacinda keeps going on about how old and ancient he must be. I understand that the draki’s don’t age the same, but there were discrepancies in the way Deghan and his age were described throughout this novel.
What I really missed this time around, was Cassian. Through his and Jacinda’s bonding we get to know how he’s feeling but there are few interactions with him. The most they speak in the whole book comes at the end, and seeing as I was team Cassian I was somewhat upset by this. However, I did (sort of) come to terms with the fact that Will is a pretty good match for Jacinda…I guess.
Personally, I was hoping the book would end around chapter 23 or 24. I would go into detail but I don’t want to give too much away, so you’ll have to read the book and then decide if you agree with me. I did love the fact that Jacinda has the right to choose her own life at the end of the novel, something she’d been struggling with and simply hadn’t had from the very beginning. I understand why the book ended the way it did and don’t get me wrong, I agree with the ending and I really was happy for the characters, I just thought chapter 23 would’ve been a happier ending. I’m turning into a sap, I know.
Conclusion:
So far in my review I haven’t said too many good things have I? Don’t get me wrong, I loved this book. I think I was extra knit picky because I’ve been so invested in this story. The more I like something, the bigger my opinions and arguments get. I secretly hope that Sophie Jordan will continue this series, perhaps from a different characters point of view. I’m really interested to see what will happen to Cassian (obviously) but also what will happen to Tamra and Deghan and what Jacinda and Will ultimately decide to do.
I think I’m somewhat in denial that this series is over, but I can’t wait to sit down and read all three books back to back and see how that changes the story. I love dragons and I love the take Sophie Jordan had when she created her draki. I am so pleased that I found this series and I can’t wait to read more of Jordan’s writing.
Rating:4/5 Stars
Initial Thoughts:
I was so excited to start reading Hidden but I was also apprehensive and sad. Reading the last book in a trilogy is always bittersweet and I knew reading the end of the Firelight series would be no different. I was really happy to see that the cover was the most gorgeous one yet, since that is why I originally started reading Firelight. I don’t know how many times I’ll say this, but I am the biggest sucker for a gorgeous cover.
Spoilers!
From the moment this book began, it was action packed! There were escapes, chases, being being captured or killed or injured, up until the last few chapters. I loved how fast paced this book was, but I did feel like some of the regular character interaction and development was missing. I guess since this is the third book, we should know the characters by now, but I still wish there had been a nicer balance between the action sequences and the actual, meaningful dialogue between characters. We didn’t learn anything new about the old characters and we didn’t learn anything new about the new characters either.
Speaking of new characters, Deghan is introduced as a new draki. What I don’t understand (though perhaps I missed this tidbit of information in the previous books) is why he’s so young when Jacinda keeps going on about how old and ancient he must be. I understand that the draki’s don’t age the same, but there were discrepancies in the way Deghan and his age were described throughout this novel.
What I really missed this time around, was Cassian. Through his and Jacinda’s bonding we get to know how he’s feeling but there are few interactions with him. The most they speak in the whole book comes at the end, and seeing as I was team Cassian I was somewhat upset by this. However, I did (sort of) come to terms with the fact that Will is a pretty good match for Jacinda…I guess.
Personally, I was hoping the book would end around chapter 23 or 24. I would go into detail but I don’t want to give too much away, so you’ll have to read the book and then decide if you agree with me. I did love the fact that Jacinda has the right to choose her own life at the end of the novel, something she’d been struggling with and simply hadn’t had from the very beginning. I understand why the book ended the way it did and don’t get me wrong, I agree with the ending and I really was happy for the characters, I just thought chapter 23 would’ve been a happier ending. I’m turning into a sap, I know.
Conclusion:
So far in my review I haven’t said too many good things have I? Don’t get me wrong, I loved this book. I think I was extra knit picky because I’ve been so invested in this story. The more I like something, the bigger my opinions and arguments get. I secretly hope that Sophie Jordan will continue this series, perhaps from a different characters point of view. I’m really interested to see what will happen to Cassian (obviously) but also what will happen to Tamra and Deghan and what Jacinda and Will ultimately decide to do.
I think I’m somewhat in denial that this series is over, but I can’t wait to sit down and read all three books back to back and see how that changes the story. I love dragons and I love the take Sophie Jordan had when she created her draki. I am so pleased that I found this series and I can’t wait to read more of Jordan’s writing.
Rating:4/5 Stars
You can find this review as well as countless others on my blog The Dancing Nerd Writes Again by clicking here .
Initial Thoughts:
This is the first book I read in 2013! I absolutely love the cover and was moderately excited to read it. I think time travel is a cool concept but it isn’t one of my favorite subjects ever. I got up to page 52 and thought I wasn’t going to be able to finish this book. I just didn’t feel much of a connection to the story or the characters. Around page 100, things definitely got interesting and I knew I’d have no problem finishing it.
Spoilers!
I felt pretty confused for a good portion of the book, mainly because Jackson (the main character) kept jumping back and forth to different time zones and different days and different people knew different information on different days and Ah! I eventually eased into the pacing of the book and began to understand more of what was going on. I did like that this book kept me on my toes. If I thought I knew what would happen next, Julie Cross took me in the opposite direction.
In the beginning of the novel Jackson has a girlfriend named Holly. Their relationship is breaking apart and quickly. Jackson ‘jumps’ back in time as the result of panic and a really bad situation and finds himself stuck. While he’s stuck in the past, he discovers some really freaky secrets about his family and about himself.
For some reason I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, even though I really wanted to. Many reviews I’ve read said that Julie Cross had people bawling their eyes out multiple times. I could see where this would happen, but I only really teared up once (the scene with Jackson’s twin sister). I didn’t even find the ending sad, which makes me feel like a heartless person. Don’t get me wrong, I admire Jackson for his decision and have way more respect for him because of it, but I wasn’t invested in the relationship so the ending just didn’t pull any emotions out of me.
I thought the overall writing was good, with a few minor annoying bits. I was semi annoyed by the characterization of many of the guys in the novel. I think Julie Cross took the realistic parts of guys and multiplied those characteristics by two. They just didn’t seem real to me, but you never know, maybe Cross knows guys like the ones she wrote about. It’s a big world, lots of people, I guess it could happen.
The time traveling, once you understand it, is a really cool concept. I think the background as to why Jackson can do it is even more interesting. I really like the science and thought put into creating this idea and I loved the roll Adam played (an MIT student whom Jackson befriends and helps him understand his gift). If I was in a sticky situation like that, I would want a guy like Adam on my side.
Conclusion:
This book wasn’t at all what I was expecting but I enjoyed it. I can understand why other reads are so easily caught up in Jackson and Holly’s world and wish I could have gotten caught up too. Even though I couldn’t connect well with the characters I did enjoy the plot and the twists and turns. If the plot had not improved after page 52 there is no way I would’ve finished this book.
This is book 1 in the series. I might read book 2. Okay, I’ll probably read book 2. I have minor OCD about not finishing a series once I start it.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Initial Thoughts:
This is the first book I read in 2013! I absolutely love the cover and was moderately excited to read it. I think time travel is a cool concept but it isn’t one of my favorite subjects ever. I got up to page 52 and thought I wasn’t going to be able to finish this book. I just didn’t feel much of a connection to the story or the characters. Around page 100, things definitely got interesting and I knew I’d have no problem finishing it.
Spoilers!
I felt pretty confused for a good portion of the book, mainly because Jackson (the main character) kept jumping back and forth to different time zones and different days and different people knew different information on different days and Ah! I eventually eased into the pacing of the book and began to understand more of what was going on. I did like that this book kept me on my toes. If I thought I knew what would happen next, Julie Cross took me in the opposite direction.
In the beginning of the novel Jackson has a girlfriend named Holly. Their relationship is breaking apart and quickly. Jackson ‘jumps’ back in time as the result of panic and a really bad situation and finds himself stuck. While he’s stuck in the past, he discovers some really freaky secrets about his family and about himself.
For some reason I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, even though I really wanted to. Many reviews I’ve read said that Julie Cross had people bawling their eyes out multiple times. I could see where this would happen, but I only really teared up once (the scene with Jackson’s twin sister). I didn’t even find the ending sad, which makes me feel like a heartless person. Don’t get me wrong, I admire Jackson for his decision and have way more respect for him because of it, but I wasn’t invested in the relationship so the ending just didn’t pull any emotions out of me.
I thought the overall writing was good, with a few minor annoying bits. I was semi annoyed by the characterization of many of the guys in the novel. I think Julie Cross took the realistic parts of guys and multiplied those characteristics by two. They just didn’t seem real to me, but you never know, maybe Cross knows guys like the ones she wrote about. It’s a big world, lots of people, I guess it could happen.
The time traveling, once you understand it, is a really cool concept. I think the background as to why Jackson can do it is even more interesting. I really like the science and thought put into creating this idea and I loved the roll Adam played (an MIT student whom Jackson befriends and helps him understand his gift). If I was in a sticky situation like that, I would want a guy like Adam on my side.
Conclusion:
This book wasn’t at all what I was expecting but I enjoyed it. I can understand why other reads are so easily caught up in Jackson and Holly’s world and wish I could have gotten caught up too. Even though I couldn’t connect well with the characters I did enjoy the plot and the twists and turns. If the plot had not improved after page 52 there is no way I would’ve finished this book.
This is book 1 in the series. I might read book 2. Okay, I’ll probably read book 2. I have minor OCD about not finishing a series once I start it.
Rating: 3/5 stars
You can find this review along with countless others at my blog by clicking here .
Initial Thoughts:
I’ve learned something about myself while doing book reviews. I learned that I have a basic and straight forward approach to picking books. I am an absolute sucker for a gorgeous or intriguing cover. I judge the book solely on how pretty it is before I even know what it’s about. This book definitely drew my attention based on the unique cover and once I read the synopsis, I figured I’d give it a try.
Spoilers!
Where do I begin? I think I should start off by saying I am in love with this book, the characters, the plot, the world, and Veronica Rossi. I thought I’d had it good when I read Pandemonium (by Lauren Oliver), and yes I really really really enjoyed that book, but I just loved this one.
It wasn’t a love at first sight scenario for me or the characters. I initially kept reading only out of mild interest, wanting to see where the story would leave these characters. I was rather fond of the fact that they didn’t like each other right away…okay so they hated each other, and I loved that! I was getting tired of the, girl sees boy, girl falls in love with boy, insert conflict, fast forward to semi happily ever after. Under The Never Sky was not that story (thank goodness!).
I was a little irked in the beginning that I didn’t know too much about what was going on, what the Realms were or how they worked, but that does get sorted out as the story unfolds.
I was unsure if I liked Aria at first (the main female character). It took me a while to warm up to her and I really did begin to root for her more when her situation worsened. Perry (the male lead) I liked instantly. He was great with his nephew Talon, and he was an honest guy. Some might find his attitude and thoughts a bit brazen, but I thoroughly enjoyed his internal and external dialogue. He’s the type of guy who sees it how it is, whether some people take offense to that or not.
This book was written from alternating points of view, switching between Aria and Perry. It wasn’t confusing or jarring and I love getting the male perspective. I think as a girl, I find it so interesting to have a view into what guys are thinking and their motives behind their actions. True, this book was authored by a female, but Perry’s character sounded genuine and, for lack of a better explanation, like a real guy.
Let’s talk about Roar. My favorite character. I was just getting really excited about this book when his character is introduce and he sealed the deal. He’s the comic relief in the midst of despair and he’s a catalyst to Perry and Aria’s budding relationship.
Another aspect of the book I loved was how the outsiders have slight (but totally awesome) genetic mutations. I liked that everything linked up and made sense scientifically. These outsiders live in a treacherous world and over the centuries they’ve adapted to stay alive. I thought this was a cool and necessary element that helps this dystopian, young adult, coming of age, first love story stand out from the others.
As the book continued I fell more and more in love with the characters and knew that I was reading something really special. I didn’t quite agree with the ending (not the literal last pages, more like the last 60 pages) simply because I wouldn’t be able to make the decisions Aria made. I had to set aside my own feelings and continue to enjoy the book for what it was, Aria’s story, not mine.
Conclusion:
I sat down to read this book around 11:30pm. I was really tired and I told myself I would only read for an hour (I was actually forcing myself to read). By the time 4am rolled around I had the book closed in my lap and I was just staring at it. I couldn’t believe the incredible turn the story had taken. The last thing I had expected was to really like this book, but now I found myself absolutely consumed by it. I spent the next hour rereading my favorite parts, looking up quotes, and reading other bloggers reviews of the book.
I began thinking about what my own review would be like and realized, a rating of 5 stars just wouldn’t…couldn’t possibly explain the depth of the love and the experience I had reading this book. Gosh, I sound like such a weird nerd. Instead of the cat lady, I’ll probably grow up to be the book lady. Anyways, I’m so extremely thankful that I found this gem. It was the right place at the right time, especially since I only have to wait 8 days for the second book to be released! Win, WIN, WIN!
Under The Never Sky is a great achievement for Veronica Rossi, especially since this is her debut novel. This book would be an outstanding achievement even if it was her 40th novel. I’m just blown away. There’s so much more I could ramble about but I think this review is long enough.
Initial Thoughts:
I’ve learned something about myself while doing book reviews. I learned that I have a basic and straight forward approach to picking books. I am an absolute sucker for a gorgeous or intriguing cover. I judge the book solely on how pretty it is before I even know what it’s about. This book definitely drew my attention based on the unique cover and once I read the synopsis, I figured I’d give it a try.
Spoilers!
Where do I begin? I think I should start off by saying I am in love with this book, the characters, the plot, the world, and Veronica Rossi. I thought I’d had it good when I read Pandemonium (by Lauren Oliver), and yes I really really really enjoyed that book, but I just loved this one.
It wasn’t a love at first sight scenario for me or the characters. I initially kept reading only out of mild interest, wanting to see where the story would leave these characters. I was rather fond of the fact that they didn’t like each other right away…okay so they hated each other, and I loved that! I was getting tired of the, girl sees boy, girl falls in love with boy, insert conflict, fast forward to semi happily ever after. Under The Never Sky was not that story (thank goodness!).
I was a little irked in the beginning that I didn’t know too much about what was going on, what the Realms were or how they worked, but that does get sorted out as the story unfolds.
I was unsure if I liked Aria at first (the main female character). It took me a while to warm up to her and I really did begin to root for her more when her situation worsened. Perry (the male lead) I liked instantly. He was great with his nephew Talon, and he was an honest guy. Some might find his attitude and thoughts a bit brazen, but I thoroughly enjoyed his internal and external dialogue. He’s the type of guy who sees it how it is, whether some people take offense to that or not.
This book was written from alternating points of view, switching between Aria and Perry. It wasn’t confusing or jarring and I love getting the male perspective. I think as a girl, I find it so interesting to have a view into what guys are thinking and their motives behind their actions. True, this book was authored by a female, but Perry’s character sounded genuine and, for lack of a better explanation, like a real guy.
Let’s talk about Roar. My favorite character. I was just getting really excited about this book when his character is introduce and he sealed the deal. He’s the comic relief in the midst of despair and he’s a catalyst to Perry and Aria’s budding relationship.
Another aspect of the book I loved was how the outsiders have slight (but totally awesome) genetic mutations. I liked that everything linked up and made sense scientifically. These outsiders live in a treacherous world and over the centuries they’ve adapted to stay alive. I thought this was a cool and necessary element that helps this dystopian, young adult, coming of age, first love story stand out from the others.
As the book continued I fell more and more in love with the characters and knew that I was reading something really special. I didn’t quite agree with the ending (not the literal last pages, more like the last 60 pages) simply because I wouldn’t be able to make the decisions Aria made. I had to set aside my own feelings and continue to enjoy the book for what it was, Aria’s story, not mine.
Conclusion:
I sat down to read this book around 11:30pm. I was really tired and I told myself I would only read for an hour (I was actually forcing myself to read). By the time 4am rolled around I had the book closed in my lap and I was just staring at it. I couldn’t believe the incredible turn the story had taken. The last thing I had expected was to really like this book, but now I found myself absolutely consumed by it. I spent the next hour rereading my favorite parts, looking up quotes, and reading other bloggers reviews of the book.
I began thinking about what my own review would be like and realized, a rating of 5 stars just wouldn’t…couldn’t possibly explain the depth of the love and the experience I had reading this book. Gosh, I sound like such a weird nerd. Instead of the cat lady, I’ll probably grow up to be the book lady. Anyways, I’m so extremely thankful that I found this gem. It was the right place at the right time, especially since I only have to wait 8 days for the second book to be released! Win, WIN, WIN!
Under The Never Sky is a great achievement for Veronica Rossi, especially since this is her debut novel. This book would be an outstanding achievement even if it was her 40th novel. I’m just blown away. There’s so much more I could ramble about but I think this review is long enough.
You can find this review along with countless others at my blog by clicking here .
Initial Thoughts:
I honestly didn’t have that many initial thoughts because I jumped right into this book after finishing Delirium (click here for review).
Spoilers!
Oh my gosh. I wasn’t sure where Lauren Oliver was going to take this series after the way the first book ended. With Alex gone and Lena in the wilds, away from everything she knows, we meet a new group of characters. I loved the writing style and the way the chapters switched between then and now.
I loved every new character that was introduced, especially Raven, Tack, and of course, Julian. I was upset with the loss of Alex, holding onto hope that he would return, but felt extremely guilty about how much I liked Julian. As a character, I felt like Julian was much more developed than Alex but I was not instantly attracted to him. Alex was always in the back of my mind but I thought, Hey, if Lena needs to start moving on thank goodness it’s with this kid. As I learned more and more about him he quickly became my favorite and had me asking, Alex who?
I need a whole independent paragraph to talk about Raven. This character was pure genius on Lauren Oliver’s part. Raven forced Lena to grow as a character. Raven was so well developed and had such good dialogue that in the beginning I honestly HATED this girl. How dare she say and do those things to Lena? But by the end, I trusted her (sort of) and respected her as a character. Heck, I even sort of liked her and would be really sad to see her go. I really hope we’ll get a chance to see more of her and Tack’s relationship in future novels. Raven’s story will also appear in a novella type format (click here for more information).
Pandemonium moved much quicker than Delirium did, which I appreciated. We now understand the world Lena lives in so there was less explaining and more action. This was a heart racing page turner that I just couldn’t put down. I made the mistake of reading this book during finals week (I somehow managed to pull off good marks) and was up all night reading this book.
I am sad to say that the few twists and turns placed throughout the novel were easy to anticipate. I’d like to think the reason behind my ability to see the future of this story is that I’m so in tune with the author and her characters that I guessed the natural ebb and flow of the story. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
The ending is a definite cliff hanger which had me clinging to my covers in excitement and anticipation of what could possibly happen next. But as all good books do, when the going gets juicy, they end. The third book of the series isn’t due to be released until March 2013.
Conclusion:
So far Pandemonium stands as my favorite book in the Delirium Series. I cannot wait to read the third book to see how Lena will untangle this mess. I enjoyed the fast paced action as well as the not so subtle love connection. Lauren Oliver could do so much with this series in terms of relationships, state of the government, and state of reality for her characters. I’m truly excited to see which avenue she will venture down and I am now a true fan of her work.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Initial Thoughts:
I honestly didn’t have that many initial thoughts because I jumped right into this book after finishing Delirium (click here for review).
Spoilers!
Oh my gosh. I wasn’t sure where Lauren Oliver was going to take this series after the way the first book ended. With Alex gone and Lena in the wilds, away from everything she knows, we meet a new group of characters. I loved the writing style and the way the chapters switched between then and now.
I loved every new character that was introduced, especially Raven, Tack, and of course, Julian. I was upset with the loss of Alex, holding onto hope that he would return, but felt extremely guilty about how much I liked Julian. As a character, I felt like Julian was much more developed than Alex but I was not instantly attracted to him. Alex was always in the back of my mind but I thought, Hey, if Lena needs to start moving on thank goodness it’s with this kid. As I learned more and more about him he quickly became my favorite and had me asking, Alex who?
I need a whole independent paragraph to talk about Raven. This character was pure genius on Lauren Oliver’s part. Raven forced Lena to grow as a character. Raven was so well developed and had such good dialogue that in the beginning I honestly HATED this girl. How dare she say and do those things to Lena? But by the end, I trusted her (sort of) and respected her as a character. Heck, I even sort of liked her and would be really sad to see her go. I really hope we’ll get a chance to see more of her and Tack’s relationship in future novels. Raven’s story will also appear in a novella type format (click here for more information).
Pandemonium moved much quicker than Delirium did, which I appreciated. We now understand the world Lena lives in so there was less explaining and more action. This was a heart racing page turner that I just couldn’t put down. I made the mistake of reading this book during finals week (I somehow managed to pull off good marks) and was up all night reading this book.
I am sad to say that the few twists and turns placed throughout the novel were easy to anticipate. I’d like to think the reason behind my ability to see the future of this story is that I’m so in tune with the author and her characters that I guessed the natural ebb and flow of the story. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
The ending is a definite cliff hanger which had me clinging to my covers in excitement and anticipation of what could possibly happen next. But as all good books do, when the going gets juicy, they end. The third book of the series isn’t due to be released until March 2013.
Conclusion:
So far Pandemonium stands as my favorite book in the Delirium Series. I cannot wait to read the third book to see how Lena will untangle this mess. I enjoyed the fast paced action as well as the not so subtle love connection. Lauren Oliver could do so much with this series in terms of relationships, state of the government, and state of reality for her characters. I’m truly excited to see which avenue she will venture down and I am now a true fan of her work.
Rating: 5/5 stars
You can find this review as well as countless others on my blog by clicking here .
Initial Thoughts:
I’d seen many bloggers post reviews of this series but I had never read the reviews or even read the excerpt on the inside cover or back cover of the book. When I picked it up at my local library I was excited only because I knew a lot of people were talking about this book, whether their reviews were positive or negative I had no idea.
I still wasn’t sold on reading it until I went to the next shelf and saw the next book in the series, Pandemonium, staring up at me. I knew it was fate. Ever since I was little I would always, always, always, as a rule of nerdom, get the first and second book in a series together (if they were both printed at the time).
Staying true to my rule, I quickly grabbed both books off the shelf and proceeded the check them out. I don’t think I ever read an excerpt from the book, I just dove in which turned out to be the best possible way to read it.
Spoilers!
I wasn’t sure where the story would take me, so I enjoyed the ride. Admittedly, I found the ride to be a bit slow or leisurely in the beginning. I was adapting to this new world where Love is a disease and I was personally in a frame of mind where I could see the logic behind that theory. I didn’t get too carried away though, I still think Love is essential to us as human beings and it’s a ‘disease’ we all yearn to have, but at the time I could relate to Lena.
I felt like the plot really began to speed up once Lena meets Alex and learns the truth about him. That is the real moment her life changes and her journey begins. I almost don’t want to say too much about the plot because it was such a great story with such amazing twists and turns I don’t want to spoil it for the next person.
So instead, I’ll talk about Lauren Oliver’s writing.
I was instantly hooked and transfixed and captivated by every word on the page. I hate running. It hurts, it’s pointless unless someone is chasing you, and I just hate it. But Lena loved to run, and when I was reading the scenes where Lena would go on runs, I felt like I loved running too, which was bizarre! I wanted to get up, put on my sneakers, and go running somewhere, to feel how good she felt to run. Lauren Oliver made me feel what Lena felt throughout the novel.
I won’t say much about the ending other than I cried…hard. That ugly crying too (thank goodness I was alone in my room). I was obviously emotional, but I felt numb the way Lena did when she running through the woods. It was so unexpected and brilliant and I was mad but I respected the author and her decision to end it that way because in the back of my mind I knew that wasn’t the end. It just couldn’t be!
Conclusion:
This book did one simple, yet complex thing to me as a reader. A book that describes love as a disease, made me believe in love again. Before I read Delirium I hadn’t realized what it was that was missing from my life and it was that belief in love. Maybe it won’t happen right away, but I believe that one day it will.
I know that got a little deep there, but reading and books in general is a very personal experience for me and if it’s a good book, with a good message, and well written, a book has the potential to change me as a person.
I had originally borrowed this book from my local library but I’m in the process of buying the whole series (the third book hasn’t been released yet). Would I recommend this book? Hell. Yes. There are only a few series I’ve read in my life that have made such a significant impact like this one did and when I find them I don’t let go or look back.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Initial Thoughts:
I’d seen many bloggers post reviews of this series but I had never read the reviews or even read the excerpt on the inside cover or back cover of the book. When I picked it up at my local library I was excited only because I knew a lot of people were talking about this book, whether their reviews were positive or negative I had no idea.
I still wasn’t sold on reading it until I went to the next shelf and saw the next book in the series, Pandemonium, staring up at me. I knew it was fate. Ever since I was little I would always, always, always, as a rule of nerdom, get the first and second book in a series together (if they were both printed at the time).
Staying true to my rule, I quickly grabbed both books off the shelf and proceeded the check them out. I don’t think I ever read an excerpt from the book, I just dove in which turned out to be the best possible way to read it.
Spoilers!
I wasn’t sure where the story would take me, so I enjoyed the ride. Admittedly, I found the ride to be a bit slow or leisurely in the beginning. I was adapting to this new world where Love is a disease and I was personally in a frame of mind where I could see the logic behind that theory. I didn’t get too carried away though, I still think Love is essential to us as human beings and it’s a ‘disease’ we all yearn to have, but at the time I could relate to Lena.
I felt like the plot really began to speed up once Lena meets Alex and learns the truth about him. That is the real moment her life changes and her journey begins. I almost don’t want to say too much about the plot because it was such a great story with such amazing twists and turns I don’t want to spoil it for the next person.
So instead, I’ll talk about Lauren Oliver’s writing.
I was instantly hooked and transfixed and captivated by every word on the page. I hate running. It hurts, it’s pointless unless someone is chasing you, and I just hate it. But Lena loved to run, and when I was reading the scenes where Lena would go on runs, I felt like I loved running too, which was bizarre! I wanted to get up, put on my sneakers, and go running somewhere, to feel how good she felt to run. Lauren Oliver made me feel what Lena felt throughout the novel.
I won’t say much about the ending other than I cried…hard. That ugly crying too (thank goodness I was alone in my room). I was obviously emotional, but I felt numb the way Lena did when she running through the woods. It was so unexpected and brilliant and I was mad but I respected the author and her decision to end it that way because in the back of my mind I knew that wasn’t the end. It just couldn’t be!
Conclusion:
This book did one simple, yet complex thing to me as a reader. A book that describes love as a disease, made me believe in love again. Before I read Delirium I hadn’t realized what it was that was missing from my life and it was that belief in love. Maybe it won’t happen right away, but I believe that one day it will.
I know that got a little deep there, but reading and books in general is a very personal experience for me and if it’s a good book, with a good message, and well written, a book has the potential to change me as a person.
I had originally borrowed this book from my local library but I’m in the process of buying the whole series (the third book hasn’t been released yet). Would I recommend this book? Hell. Yes. There are only a few series I’ve read in my life that have made such a significant impact like this one did and when I find them I don’t let go or look back.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
You can find this review as well as countless others by clicking here .
Initial Thoughts:
I originally heard about this book in 2008. Back then the idea of zombies wasn’t even on my radar. These days, however, I’m spoiled and obsessed with shows like The Walking Dead and movies like Zombieland. I went into this book with a pretty solid idea and understanding of zombies but Daniel Waters totally reinvented the ‘species’ and I thought it worked…for the most part.
Spoilers:
Daniel Waters’ zombies are teenagers who have died and come back to life, or dead life. They don’t eat humans or function the way humans do. They are alot slower in their movements and have a hard time communicating, but some are able to function at higher levels than others (the reasoning behind this is revealed towards the end). Depending on how the teenager died, most of the zombies look normal, if you can think of palish green skin as normal.
Initially the story is written as a zombie love story between a zombie, Tommy, and a human, Phoebe. At first this was a hard concept to grasp, since my imagination of zombies goes right to The Walking Dead and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near one of those zombies let alone going to the mall with him and holding hands. Once I got over the shock factor I found the relationship intriguing.
I personally never felt a connection between Phoebe and Tommy and couldn’t understand Phoebe’s connection or attraction to him. The whole time I was reading the story I was rooting for Phoebe’s long time friend Adam, who has been in love with her for years. The real conflict begins when Adam’s ex-best friend Pete begins killing the zombies and bullying Phoebe.
The story ends with Adam suffering some really harsh consequences from saving Phoebe’s life, which was sad but ultimately just pissed me off. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, because getting pissed off is a testament to my connection with Adam, which means the author did his job and was able to evoke emotion from his readers.
Conclusion:
I think this book struggled to find a balance between a love story and the science of the zombies. I didn’t feel like either facet was strong enough to propel the story and I wish that the author had focused more on one of the other. They just didn’t feel complete to me. I didn’t grasp the love story and there were too many questions and missing pieces in the science department of it all.
There is another Zombie book out there, which has just been turned into a major motion picture, called Warm Bodies that embodies some of the same zombie elements Generation Dead had. Warm Bodies has been on my to-read list for a long time now so I can’t personally recommend it…yet.
I would recommend Generation Dead for those of you who want a new perspective on Zombies and to get you in the mood or mindset to read Warm Bodies before it comes out in theaters.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Initial Thoughts:
I originally heard about this book in 2008. Back then the idea of zombies wasn’t even on my radar. These days, however, I’m spoiled and obsessed with shows like The Walking Dead and movies like Zombieland. I went into this book with a pretty solid idea and understanding of zombies but Daniel Waters totally reinvented the ‘species’ and I thought it worked…for the most part.
Spoilers:
Daniel Waters’ zombies are teenagers who have died and come back to life, or dead life. They don’t eat humans or function the way humans do. They are alot slower in their movements and have a hard time communicating, but some are able to function at higher levels than others (the reasoning behind this is revealed towards the end). Depending on how the teenager died, most of the zombies look normal, if you can think of palish green skin as normal.
Initially the story is written as a zombie love story between a zombie, Tommy, and a human, Phoebe. At first this was a hard concept to grasp, since my imagination of zombies goes right to The Walking Dead and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near one of those zombies let alone going to the mall with him and holding hands. Once I got over the shock factor I found the relationship intriguing.
I personally never felt a connection between Phoebe and Tommy and couldn’t understand Phoebe’s connection or attraction to him. The whole time I was reading the story I was rooting for Phoebe’s long time friend Adam, who has been in love with her for years. The real conflict begins when Adam’s ex-best friend Pete begins killing the zombies and bullying Phoebe.
The story ends with Adam suffering some really harsh consequences from saving Phoebe’s life, which was sad but ultimately just pissed me off. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, because getting pissed off is a testament to my connection with Adam, which means the author did his job and was able to evoke emotion from his readers.
Conclusion:
I think this book struggled to find a balance between a love story and the science of the zombies. I didn’t feel like either facet was strong enough to propel the story and I wish that the author had focused more on one of the other. They just didn’t feel complete to me. I didn’t grasp the love story and there were too many questions and missing pieces in the science department of it all.
There is another Zombie book out there, which has just been turned into a major motion picture, called Warm Bodies that embodies some of the same zombie elements Generation Dead had. Warm Bodies has been on my to-read list for a long time now so I can’t personally recommend it…yet.
I would recommend Generation Dead for those of you who want a new perspective on Zombies and to get you in the mood or mindset to read Warm Bodies before it comes out in theaters.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
You can find this review as well as many others on my blog by clicking here .
Initial Thoughts:
I’ve been with this series for almost five years now and it’s in my Top 5 favorite young adult series list. Just like with The Blue Bloods series (by Melissa De La Cruz), not every book is spectacular. Some are only necessary to provide information to the reader but they do little to help or advance the overall plot. Being the 10th novel in the House Of Night Series, I was excited to see if this would be an information filler or an all plot and action book. Sadly, I think this novel falls into a new, third category which stands for unnecessary.
It pains me to say that because I’ve waited so long for each book to come out every year and obviously waiting for a conclusion to this story. I think the authors made an unrealistic deal with publishers or agents to produce a series with way too many books. The quantity of this series is killing the quality of the story and of the storytelling. The stories are now becoming sloppy because the authors trying to stretch it out to the point where it is unrecognizable.
Spoilers!
This novel focuses on outing Neferet, Aurox choosing sides, and Zoey attempting (yet again) to save someone she loves. I was extremely disappointed with this novel because I wanted the story to move forward, to make some sort of progress. I wanted this big battle that 9 books have been hinting at and leading up to. Instead I got a melodramatic, unimportant and anticlimactic story about Zoey saving someone (for the umpteenth time). The story ‘might’ have been more effective and had more relevance if the person who was kidnapped had died, but it ended with a happily ever after. So…what was the point of this novel if everything is fine in the end?
Another thing that stood out to me is that I was unsympathetic to the characters. I felt little or no connection to them and I didn’t route them on. I can’t say that I wouldn’t have care if they died, but I didn’t particularly cared if they lived either. There was no suspense or game changing move made by anyone, except maybe Aurox…maybe. Speaking of Aurox, this novel was a build up to the reveal of his ‘true’ identity but, Hello! The readers already know who Aurox really is. The authors told us a few books ago when Aurox was created. How can you build an entire novel on a climactic event the audience already knows about?
Conclusion:
I’m ususally not this cynical after reading a book but this one seemed to push all my buttons the wrong way. Perhaps if I had reread the other nine books before this one (but really, who has time to do that?) maybe I would’ve been more compassionate and in tune with the characters. As a huge fan of this series I feel like the authors as well as the characters let me down. I hope the last books in the series will get straight to the point and tie up whatever loose ends are left and do it quickly. Stop dragging out an inevitable end and make me forget about Hidden. Let’s all just pretend it didn’t happen.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Initial Thoughts:
I’ve been with this series for almost five years now and it’s in my Top 5 favorite young adult series list. Just like with The Blue Bloods series (by Melissa De La Cruz), not every book is spectacular. Some are only necessary to provide information to the reader but they do little to help or advance the overall plot. Being the 10th novel in the House Of Night Series, I was excited to see if this would be an information filler or an all plot and action book. Sadly, I think this novel falls into a new, third category which stands for unnecessary.
It pains me to say that because I’ve waited so long for each book to come out every year and obviously waiting for a conclusion to this story. I think the authors made an unrealistic deal with publishers or agents to produce a series with way too many books. The quantity of this series is killing the quality of the story and of the storytelling. The stories are now becoming sloppy because the authors trying to stretch it out to the point where it is unrecognizable.
Spoilers!
This novel focuses on outing Neferet, Aurox choosing sides, and Zoey attempting (yet again) to save someone she loves. I was extremely disappointed with this novel because I wanted the story to move forward, to make some sort of progress. I wanted this big battle that 9 books have been hinting at and leading up to. Instead I got a melodramatic, unimportant and anticlimactic story about Zoey saving someone (for the umpteenth time). The story ‘might’ have been more effective and had more relevance if the person who was kidnapped had died, but it ended with a happily ever after. So…what was the point of this novel if everything is fine in the end?
Another thing that stood out to me is that I was unsympathetic to the characters. I felt little or no connection to them and I didn’t route them on. I can’t say that I wouldn’t have care if they died, but I didn’t particularly cared if they lived either. There was no suspense or game changing move made by anyone, except maybe Aurox…maybe. Speaking of Aurox, this novel was a build up to the reveal of his ‘true’ identity but, Hello! The readers already know who Aurox really is. The authors told us a few books ago when Aurox was created. How can you build an entire novel on a climactic event the audience already knows about?
Conclusion:
I’m ususally not this cynical after reading a book but this one seemed to push all my buttons the wrong way. Perhaps if I had reread the other nine books before this one (but really, who has time to do that?) maybe I would’ve been more compassionate and in tune with the characters. As a huge fan of this series I feel like the authors as well as the characters let me down. I hope the last books in the series will get straight to the point and tie up whatever loose ends are left and do it quickly. Stop dragging out an inevitable end and make me forget about Hidden. Let’s all just pretend it didn’t happen.
Rating: 2/5 stars
You can find this review as well as countless others on my blog by clicking here.
Initial Thoughts:
I wasn’t a huge fan of this series after reading the first book Jeremy Chikalto and the Hazy Souls but after reading this second installment of the Hazy Souls series I’m officially a fan. More specifically, I’m a fan of the main character Jeremy. I got a much better sense of who Jeremy is and what role he plays in this novel. In the first book of the series I liked Jeremy, but now I feel a strong connection and attachment to him. I find myself worrying about his well being throughout the novel and hoping he gets the attention he wants from Maren (the main female character).
I also enjoyed the pace of this novel. It moved along effortlessly and I found myself unable to put it down. I read the novel in two sittings reading roughly 100 pages at a time without even realizing it.
Spoilers!
This novel takes place mostly in the Haze and on Earth. There were plot twists in almost every chapter, each one as unexpected as the last. I honestly never knew what was going to happen and I’m normally the kind of reader who can guess (sometimes before I even read the first page) what is going to happen.
There were a few points or scenes in the novel that I felt were unrealistic or unbelievable. Obviously this is a story of fiction, but the elements of fiction must remain believable. A few moments that stood out in particular include teenagers flying a plane, was the island a resort and did Jeremy let Maren in on the secret or his plan, and how does Maren know Latin? If those few scenes had a little more background information or extra dialogue I think it would have worked better and been easier to accept as being possible.
I really liked that the general theme or motif for this book was the demons. The last line of the novel was my favorite part of the entire thing and it made me appreciate the whole story and plot of this book even more. It made me go back and reanalyze all the things I’d just read to try and figure out if that had been hinted at all along. The last line is my favorite part of the whole series so far, besides all of the scenes where Jeremy dances but that’s just me and I’m biased (I’m a dancer).
Another great aspect of this book was the addition of new characters. Maren visits her old friends from Earth where we meet her two best friends and the guy she almost dated, Mitch. As a reader, I wanted to feel the same way about Mitch as Maren so I could be angry at Jeremy too and so that I could understand why she struggled so much in choosing between the two guys. Instead I found myself on Team Jeremy from the very first line Mitch is mentioned and I felt more and more distant to Maren.
I mentioned in my first review that I liked the religious aspects in Book 1 and I do like them in this book as well. However I felt like they were at some points excessive. The sections where Maren is reciting the bible, while being pivotal in showing how she coped with the death of her Mother, lost me at times and it didn’t add anything to the story.
Conclusion:
This was a fantastic second novel from T.S. DeBrosse and I can’t wait to watch as her writing style and plot line progress, change, and grow into the next novel. I’m excited to learn more about Jeremy and his demons (literally and figuratively) and I want to know how his relationship will be with Maren if and when they get out of the Haze. I have to say, I think Jeremy is one of my favorite male characters in young adult fiction right now. He’s so cocky yet has a secret innocent side too that is so endearing. After reading the second book, I would recommend Jeremy Chikalto to fellow young adult readers, especially if you want a story unlike anything else out there.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Initial Thoughts:
I wasn’t a huge fan of this series after reading the first book Jeremy Chikalto and the Hazy Souls but after reading this second installment of the Hazy Souls series I’m officially a fan. More specifically, I’m a fan of the main character Jeremy. I got a much better sense of who Jeremy is and what role he plays in this novel. In the first book of the series I liked Jeremy, but now I feel a strong connection and attachment to him. I find myself worrying about his well being throughout the novel and hoping he gets the attention he wants from Maren (the main female character).
I also enjoyed the pace of this novel. It moved along effortlessly and I found myself unable to put it down. I read the novel in two sittings reading roughly 100 pages at a time without even realizing it.
Spoilers!
This novel takes place mostly in the Haze and on Earth. There were plot twists in almost every chapter, each one as unexpected as the last. I honestly never knew what was going to happen and I’m normally the kind of reader who can guess (sometimes before I even read the first page) what is going to happen.
There were a few points or scenes in the novel that I felt were unrealistic or unbelievable. Obviously this is a story of fiction, but the elements of fiction must remain believable. A few moments that stood out in particular include teenagers flying a plane, was the island a resort and did Jeremy let Maren in on the secret or his plan, and how does Maren know Latin? If those few scenes had a little more background information or extra dialogue I think it would have worked better and been easier to accept as being possible.
I really liked that the general theme or motif for this book was the demons. The last line of the novel was my favorite part of the entire thing and it made me appreciate the whole story and plot of this book even more. It made me go back and reanalyze all the things I’d just read to try and figure out if that had been hinted at all along. The last line is my favorite part of the whole series so far, besides all of the scenes where Jeremy dances but that’s just me and I’m biased (I’m a dancer).
Another great aspect of this book was the addition of new characters. Maren visits her old friends from Earth where we meet her two best friends and the guy she almost dated, Mitch. As a reader, I wanted to feel the same way about Mitch as Maren so I could be angry at Jeremy too and so that I could understand why she struggled so much in choosing between the two guys. Instead I found myself on Team Jeremy from the very first line Mitch is mentioned and I felt more and more distant to Maren.
I mentioned in my first review that I liked the religious aspects in Book 1 and I do like them in this book as well. However I felt like they were at some points excessive. The sections where Maren is reciting the bible, while being pivotal in showing how she coped with the death of her Mother, lost me at times and it didn’t add anything to the story.
Conclusion:
This was a fantastic second novel from T.S. DeBrosse and I can’t wait to watch as her writing style and plot line progress, change, and grow into the next novel. I’m excited to learn more about Jeremy and his demons (literally and figuratively) and I want to know how his relationship will be with Maren if and when they get out of the Haze. I have to say, I think Jeremy is one of my favorite male characters in young adult fiction right now. He’s so cocky yet has a secret innocent side too that is so endearing. After reading the second book, I would recommend Jeremy Chikalto to fellow young adult readers, especially if you want a story unlike anything else out there.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
You can find this review along with many others on my blog by clicking here
Initial Thoughts:
I’ve always been a pretty strict young adult genre reader, so I was excited and nervous when I got the chance to venture outside of my teenage triangle of love comfort zone. Much to my surprise, I instantly fell in love with this book, the character’s, and Gideon’s style of writing. I was laughing out loud uncontrollable at parts, and deeply touched or saddened by others. I think this was the perfect book to use to branch out my little olive tree of book knowledge. After reading Wife 22 I’m definitely going to seek out more books of this genre and plot line. I’ve noticed over the past year or so that I’ve turned into a sort of hopeless romantic, and this book was perfect for me.
Spoilers!
Oh gosh, the anonymity, the sense of doing something bad (in a good way), the feeling of having secrets, the rush of a new relationship, all these things and more are rushing through Alice as she begins her marriage survey as Wife 22 with Researcher 101. I simply adored the way this book was written with so many different styles, switching between bullets and numbers, to time stamps of her evening, to emails and chats passed online among friends, I ate it all up! I especially loved the way Alice writes about her courtship with her husband, William, while answering the survey questions. Her responses made me fall in love with William and I was rooting for their marriage to work right from the beginning. And her kids! Peter seems absolutely darling, and the way Alice and William handled the ‘Hoho’ situation with Zoe had me laughing out loud along with them.
It was somewhere between page 283 and 297 when I realized who Researcher 101 is. I felt a few of the same emotions Alice feels when she finds out herself as the novel progresses. But overall, I have to agree with her friends Bunny and Nerda and say that it is the most romantic thing I think any man could ever do for his wife. It almost feels like it’s so perfect, it could only ever happen in a book, but thinking like that makes me depressed. I have to assume, for my sake and the sake of all the romantics, that there are still men out there today who have enough ingenuity, sensibility, passion, and who care enough to go through what William did to bring his wife back to him.
Conclusion:
I may be wrong, but I personally think everyone should read this book. Okay maybe not everyone, but if you’re a romantic, or looking for ideas to save your marriage or relationship, this is definitely the book to do it. Or maybe you’ll read it and realize you’re relationship isn’t like Alice and William and it can’t be saved, and I think that’s okay too.
This book was exactly what I needed at the right time. It was a nice reprieve from my endless drone of young adult literature, don’t get me wrong I seriously love me some young adult books, but they can get a little repetitive.
After reading Wife 22 I somehow feel lighter, more satisfied with my life. It was almost as if, without realizing it, I had lost hope of love and romance, much in the same way Alice did. Melanie Gideon and Wife 22 was akin to some much needed therapy: mental and emotional…or are those the same thing?
This may be a bold statement, but Wife 22 is now my favorite book of 2012 (so far).
Initial Thoughts:
I’ve always been a pretty strict young adult genre reader, so I was excited and nervous when I got the chance to venture outside of my teenage triangle of love comfort zone. Much to my surprise, I instantly fell in love with this book, the character’s, and Gideon’s style of writing. I was laughing out loud uncontrollable at parts, and deeply touched or saddened by others. I think this was the perfect book to use to branch out my little olive tree of book knowledge. After reading Wife 22 I’m definitely going to seek out more books of this genre and plot line. I’ve noticed over the past year or so that I’ve turned into a sort of hopeless romantic, and this book was perfect for me.
Spoilers!
Oh gosh, the anonymity, the sense of doing something bad (in a good way), the feeling of having secrets, the rush of a new relationship, all these things and more are rushing through Alice as she begins her marriage survey as Wife 22 with Researcher 101. I simply adored the way this book was written with so many different styles, switching between bullets and numbers, to time stamps of her evening, to emails and chats passed online among friends, I ate it all up! I especially loved the way Alice writes about her courtship with her husband, William, while answering the survey questions. Her responses made me fall in love with William and I was rooting for their marriage to work right from the beginning. And her kids! Peter seems absolutely darling, and the way Alice and William handled the ‘Hoho’ situation with Zoe had me laughing out loud along with them.
It was somewhere between page 283 and 297 when I realized who Researcher 101 is. I felt a few of the same emotions Alice feels when she finds out herself as the novel progresses. But overall, I have to agree with her friends Bunny and Nerda and say that it is the most romantic thing I think any man could ever do for his wife. It almost feels like it’s so perfect, it could only ever happen in a book, but thinking like that makes me depressed. I have to assume, for my sake and the sake of all the romantics, that there are still men out there today who have enough ingenuity, sensibility, passion, and who care enough to go through what William did to bring his wife back to him.
Conclusion:
I may be wrong, but I personally think everyone should read this book. Okay maybe not everyone, but if you’re a romantic, or looking for ideas to save your marriage or relationship, this is definitely the book to do it. Or maybe you’ll read it and realize you’re relationship isn’t like Alice and William and it can’t be saved, and I think that’s okay too.
This book was exactly what I needed at the right time. It was a nice reprieve from my endless drone of young adult literature, don’t get me wrong I seriously love me some young adult books, but they can get a little repetitive.
After reading Wife 22 I somehow feel lighter, more satisfied with my life. It was almost as if, without realizing it, I had lost hope of love and romance, much in the same way Alice did. Melanie Gideon and Wife 22 was akin to some much needed therapy: mental and emotional…or are those the same thing?
This may be a bold statement, but Wife 22 is now my favorite book of 2012 (so far).
You can read this review along with many others on my blog by clicking here .
Initial Thoughts:
I’m going to be honest and admit that, yes the covers of Across The Universe and A Million Suns are what attracted me to this series, however it’s Revis’ writing and plot that kept me coming back. The first novel was a book I really enjoyed, and it was a book that made me think and question myself in certain situations. It was a story unlike anything I had read before and I was adequately intrigued.
A Million Suns really picked up the pace and got the story rolling. I could not put this book down and ended up reading all through the night. I kept telling myself, just one more chapter, just one more chapter, and before I knew it I was almost finished with the book!
Spoilers!
The antagonist in the novel is, until the last few chapters, a complete mystery! This person begins committing a spring of murders and blowing up parts of the ship to ensure that Orion’s secret doesn’t get put into action. However, Orion leaves Amy clues, which she solves with Elder. I loved the drastic change in the inhabitants of Godspeed from the first novel, where before they acted like drugged robots, they are now confronted with a wave of emotions which leads to riots and mutiny. All the while Elder is trying to control the people and fix the ship and solve the mystery with Amy.
When reading the book I would be so frustrated by the people of Godspeed and the way they were treating Elder. If an author can elicit emotions from me because I’m so invested in a character, I know I’ve got a great book in my hands. It had me reflecting back on today’s society and our political system, how easy it is to judge a leader when we only see half the scenario and how easy it is for people to revolt against it, be persuaded so easily to another side, and not listen to the truth.
There were parts of the novel when I agreed 100% with Amy’s point of view and other times when I agreed with Elder’s. I think it’s genius of Revis to write the book from two very different points of view, it’s almost like getting two completely different stories in one amazing novel. I’m also really happy Amy finally gives in and admits her feelings for Elder, even if she can’t voice them out loud yet.
There was so much more action and mystery in this novel, and I found myself going back and rereading different sections, trying to figure out the clues before the characters did. It made this novel feel more interactive, suspenseful, and fast paced.
Conclusion:
After finishing Across The Universe, I knew I was hooked on this series, but I wasn’t over the moon about it (ha ha see what I did there?). Now after finishing A Million Suns, this series is one of my favorites. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the next novel to come out (release date is January 2013). I can’t wait to see Elder and Amy’s relationship grow, they are such an unlikely couple but perfect for each other at the same time. I’m excited to see what happens to everyone frozen in the cryo level, and what really is on the new planet. After book #1, the future seemed bleak, but now, the future hold so many possibilities. I cannot wait to see what Revis does with this series, what struggles they’ll encounter on the new planet, who will lead them, and how the romance between Amy and Elder will pan out. But first, they have to land on the planet…that’s going to be one heck of an opening chapter.
Initial Thoughts:
I’m going to be honest and admit that, yes the covers of Across The Universe and A Million Suns are what attracted me to this series, however it’s Revis’ writing and plot that kept me coming back. The first novel was a book I really enjoyed, and it was a book that made me think and question myself in certain situations. It was a story unlike anything I had read before and I was adequately intrigued.
A Million Suns really picked up the pace and got the story rolling. I could not put this book down and ended up reading all through the night. I kept telling myself, just one more chapter, just one more chapter, and before I knew it I was almost finished with the book!
Spoilers!
The antagonist in the novel is, until the last few chapters, a complete mystery! This person begins committing a spring of murders and blowing up parts of the ship to ensure that Orion’s secret doesn’t get put into action. However, Orion leaves Amy clues, which she solves with Elder. I loved the drastic change in the inhabitants of Godspeed from the first novel, where before they acted like drugged robots, they are now confronted with a wave of emotions which leads to riots and mutiny. All the while Elder is trying to control the people and fix the ship and solve the mystery with Amy.
When reading the book I would be so frustrated by the people of Godspeed and the way they were treating Elder. If an author can elicit emotions from me because I’m so invested in a character, I know I’ve got a great book in my hands. It had me reflecting back on today’s society and our political system, how easy it is to judge a leader when we only see half the scenario and how easy it is for people to revolt against it, be persuaded so easily to another side, and not listen to the truth.
There were parts of the novel when I agreed 100% with Amy’s point of view and other times when I agreed with Elder’s. I think it’s genius of Revis to write the book from two very different points of view, it’s almost like getting two completely different stories in one amazing novel. I’m also really happy Amy finally gives in and admits her feelings for Elder, even if she can’t voice them out loud yet.
There was so much more action and mystery in this novel, and I found myself going back and rereading different sections, trying to figure out the clues before the characters did. It made this novel feel more interactive, suspenseful, and fast paced.
Conclusion:
After finishing Across The Universe, I knew I was hooked on this series, but I wasn’t over the moon about it (ha ha see what I did there?). Now after finishing A Million Suns, this series is one of my favorites. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the next novel to come out (release date is January 2013). I can’t wait to see Elder and Amy’s relationship grow, they are such an unlikely couple but perfect for each other at the same time. I’m excited to see what happens to everyone frozen in the cryo level, and what really is on the new planet. After book #1, the future seemed bleak, but now, the future hold so many possibilities. I cannot wait to see what Revis does with this series, what struggles they’ll encounter on the new planet, who will lead them, and how the romance between Amy and Elder will pan out. But first, they have to land on the planet…that’s going to be one heck of an opening chapter.