The 5th Wave

Title: The 5th Wave

Author: Rick Yancey

Genre: Dystopia

Rating: 5/5

Cover: 8/10

Oh, my. Not so long ago, I was asking myself where were all the fabulous books this year. Well, here's one of them.

This book is described like a good read for people who liked Hunger Games. And, yeah, sure, it's dystopia, and it's dangerous, and kids fighting, but wow. Don'y scoff at it because you think 'been there done that'. No. Trust me. You haven't. There is nothing like this book out there. Nothing. It has the best characteristics of Hunger Games, and then a heap of its' own wonderful traits. Joined together to make a simply fabulous book. It literally had me on the edge of my seat throughout the book, always trying to guess what was going to happen next, or what was happening then to the other characters.

Because that's part of the book's charm: it has multiple narrators. And while the first switch might come as a bit of a shock, by the end of the book, you can guess in the first paragraph which character is narrating. The switching narrators gave the book an entirely different feeling; more embodied, more full; something that wouldn't have been possible if the story had been told only from one person's POV, so the changing really does add that extra edge to the plot.

I really liked Cassie's fresh voice. Reading her thoughts, it many times made me laugh, because what she says and what she thinks are so in tune with what we adolescents think and say now, that the contrast it creates is just... it's mind-boggling. Cassie's world is destroyed and in ashes. And yet she comes out with some snarky comments that you could hear if you went out for a stroll in the street, and that's just great, because it reminds us that even though her situation is very different from ours, she's still just a teenage girl trying to make sense of a mad world.

Definitely read it. Though, word of warning for fans of future-based dystopia: this isn't in the future. It's very much based in the present world, only their world has alines. There is no special tech, no floaty cars or anything like that. Just your average BMWs, guns and good old-fashioned punches.

The Indigo Spell

Title: The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3)
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: YA
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 6/10


It gets old when I keep on yammering about how I'm surprised with Adrian in the Bloodlines books. But, well, I am. The Ivashkov we get to meet in these books is miles away from the womanising, drunk bum that we met in Vampire Academy; a bum who had no qualms on hitting on a taken girl. No, this Ivashkov is pretty much perfect. He's sincere, romantic, sweet, thoughtful and just all around a great guy. But you know, the best traits of the old Adrian are also still there: his sass and sarcasm.
I do like Sydney. I do. Really. But... she's not Rose. Again, I feel like I'm hitting on the same spots in any and every review of this spin-off. However, I do want to say that Angeline surprised me. I never expected that from her. Then again, I didn't expect it from Trey either. But I just feel very sad, because Eddie and Angeline were like Romitri 2.0, so I had pretty big expectations for them. Still, I guess it sort of makes sense, though it bothers me that Eddie just bounced right back from Angeline to Jill. Eager much?
As for Romitri themselves (come on, it's a VA-world book, we gotta talk about them!), my only happiness is that Richelle has promised that Rose will be showing up much more in the next 3 books, because their scene here was waaay to short. I was all hyped up for the wedding, ready for loads of Romitri goodness, and have to make-do with that? Very sad indeed. Also, why no Christian? He's the one Ozera I like, and I miss his snark.
As for the whole witch thing... I like it. I still don't trust Trey's reasons for dating Angeline, but I get it that Richelle wanted to steer the plot a little further from vampires because of Sydney being human. The big bad witch didn't really scare me, though, despite her killing all those girls. Not sure why, but the Strigoi put the fear of god in me. Witches? Not so much (except maybe Voldemort. But that's beside the point). I did like Syd's choice at the end, though. I love seeing her break free and start making her own decisions. The ending, though? Honestly, book #1 had a more riveting ending (I'm a Dimitri girl, as I'm sure you all know by now) than that, which is bad, cause I was mentally prepared for a classic Richelle Mead book 3 ending. Now I'm told it's going to happen in book 4. So, here I go preparing myself again...

Billy and Me

Title: Billy and Me
Author: Giovanna Fletcher
Genre: YA
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 6/10

I got this book as an ARC, and would like to thank Penguin for the chance to read it.

I’ve read quite a few books about the girl who falls in love with the rich, super-hot guy, and then their struggle to make their relationship work. My favourite famous-guy will always be Kellan Kyle, but Billy was great (despite his rather unfortunate name… which grew on me as the book went on), as far as egotistically inclined super-famous and ridiculously rich men go.

I really enjoyed the book, and it was an easy read throughout. Sophie was like a breath of fresh air after so many weak-willed, simpering heroines, who, after a little sweet-talking and puppy-dog eyes, always end up doing what the love interest wants. But not Sophie. She stood her ground, and battled her way through a situation no one is ever prepared for. She never lost herself and her feisty, independent nature, and I really liked reading about a girl who isn’t badass, can’t kick everyone’s ass with her eyes closed, but is still incredibly strong and powerful in her own, natural way. Most of the strong females in books are girls who are good at fighting, and while I appreciate how they show that girls can be just as physically adept as boys, it was lovely to see a girl show strength simply by standing by her own values, and refusing to take crap from life.

The only thing I felt was missing, was this big “secret” of Sophie’s. With all the buildup, I expected something a little more explosive, not grieving. Still, a nice, easy read that is both heartwarming and refreshing.

Warning to younger readers: although the book is tame, there are a few slightly racy scenes that might make you uncomfortable if you’re not used to reading more adult books.

The Elite

Title: The Elite (The Selection #2)
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: YA, dystopia
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

I want to cry because of Maxon, but at the same time, I just want to dance and celebrate because of Aspen. I'm not sure how forthcoming I've been about who I ship with who in the series, so hopefully that statement confuses you. 
I can't even start explaining all the emotions this book put me through, at least not without spoiling something major which you need to not know until the very end so that you can enjoy the book. I can, however, say that I read this in one day - and I had a 3-hour meeting, too. I read walking to the station, on the train, on the tube, walking to my meeting, and all that again on the trip back. It's dangerous and I nearly missed my stop on the way back, I was so engrossed in the book. It might also have something to do with the fact that I was having my heart ripped to shreds on a bloody train, and had to fight back tears.

America... I can safely say I'd forgotten how incredibly girly she is. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but usually authors seem to have a need to sow their heroines as incredibly strong physically, and less girly - they don't giggle or gossip much. But America is very much like a real girl in the sense that she does all that, she worries about what she's wearing, and how she looks; but she also has an inner strength that can be surprising, if one only focuses on those traits, and dismisses her as an airhead. She's so far from that, but appearances can be deceiving. So when she delivers her punch, let me tell you, it hits hard. I did have a very hard time with her constant switching from Aspen to Maxon every time something went wrong with Maxon, but I've seen this happen so many times now, it hardly even bothers me for the right reasons (because she's stringing them both along to a certain extent... though, you know, so is Maxon, kind of. And Aspen... well. Spoilers.), but because I've already figured out who she's going to pick, and just get mad at her for not sticking with him and saving them both heartache. If book characters heard my yelled instructions, their lives would be SO much easier. Their loss ;)

Maxon... I have my reservations towards his character, just like Mer did at times. Which is a first in a situation like the one I found myself in after finishing the book. Still, I believe that, deep down, he's a good guy, and I mean, really... a worse king than his dad, he cannot be, so there's that. My reservations come mostly from the fact that, though he professes his love for Mer, he is still essentially seeing people on the side. I know it's not really his fault, but it does add a certain feeling of, shall we say... cheating. And that's just the tip of it, but I'm keeping quiet. Spoilers and all...

Aspen. Oh god. I can't stand him. Which is weird, cause I do have very strong feelings about who he should end up with (but then, the same goes to Maxon, so don't read too much into that statement... or maybe do! haha) I'm pretty sure he explained to Mer why he broke up with her before the Selection, but it must have been a piss-poor reason, cause I've already forgotten it. So I really dislike him. But I love the idea of him being with the person I have in mind. UGH. CONTRADICTIONS!


Anyway. Read, read, read. It's wonderful, and I need someone to discuss it with ;)

Reckless

Title: Reckless (Thoughtless #3)
Author: S. C. Stephens
Genre: Adult
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10


To those of you just starting: deep breaths, grab your tissues, a box of chocolates, and never despair... or maybe do. I'm not telling :P

Oh, wow... where do I even start? I'm aware I need to keep the spoilers away from here, lest I be murdered by an enraged Heather (hi, hun! *waves*), so bear with me ;)

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Reckless. I was so happy for Stephens for having gotten herself a contract with a major publishing house, but I was a bit miffed that the release date was pushed back because of it. Gotta say, though. Totally worth the wait.
Kellan and Kiera's story grabbed me from the first, and Effortless was just... I read that book twice, one in the tail of the other. I literally finished it the first time, turned to the beginning and started again, that's how bloody great it was. And Reckless... hell, if I didn't have a teetering pile of unread books balancing precariously on my nightstand, I'd be very tempted to do the same. What. A. Ride.
There are good books, there are great books, and then there are those books that make you say 'to hell with life, I need to read this shit!'. I stayed up way too late (Kellan does that to me, what can a girl say?), almost forgot to eat, and thoroughly neglected all homework sent my way. I even read while walking home from the bus. Not even kidding. First time I've actually done that, and I don't even want to know how nuts I seemed these last two days, smiling like a moron throughout the day, giggling out of the blue and then almost sobbing the next moment. I'd forgotten what an emotional mess these books always left me. Thoughtless broke me into a thousand tiny pieces, only to glue me back together at the end; still, it was so painful, I've yet to go back an re-read it - unlike Effortless which, like I mentioned before, got a twofer. But even Effortless, with all it's awesome, romantic mush, still exhausted me emotionally. And Reckless was no different. The ups and downs with Kellan and Kiera are from cloud nine to hell and back again in the span of one chapter.
I loved seeing more of Denny. I really didn't like him in Thoughtless, but he's grown on me, and I love the fact that, unrealistic as that is, he was able to look over what my babies had done to him, and still be good friends with both of them. I am glad he read Kiera's book and finally apologised, though. He had more than his fair share of blame in what happened, and my main problem with him was how self-righteous he acted.
I really liked Kiera in this book. In fact, the only person I disliked was Sienna (I even loved - yes, LOVED - Griffin in this book. I guess miracles do happen), and that's self explanatory, really. I never trusted that backstabbing bitch, and I was just itching for someone - Kiera, preferably, though I'd be fine if it were Kellan - to bitchslap the bejeesus out of her.

The reality of this being the end hasn't quite sunk in yet, and I'm still wandering the house, smiling maniacally because that ending was as perfect as could be, considering *shrugs*.

Religion for Atheists

Title: Religion for Atheists
Author: Alain de Botton
Genre: religious? idk, to be honest. Philosophical, maybe
Rating: 4/5

This is very different from the stuff I usually read, but it was nice to branch off a bit, though it did take me some time to get into it. I think I'll stick with fiction for now ;)

So much discussion goes on daily about the world, and the sad state it's in. Of course, we all know this, but reading Alain Botton's Religion for Atheists was quite an eye-opener.

Religion for Atheists is a thought-provoking book that uses the three most famous religions (which includes the two most infamous ones - Judaism and Christianity) to try and explain why we sometimes feel alone in a crowded room, why we might love next to a family for years on end, and sometimes never even know their names - and most importantly, how to fix that.

As an atheist myself, de Botton's ideas were certainly intriguing, and there sure seems to a lot to be said about his suggestion of a restaurant that would join only the best traits of all the religions, like the feeling of caring and interest towards those around us created in Mass, or the idea of total liberation of rules and impositions for a certain period of time (in old times, it used to be 3 days). There is a certain alluring quality to his suggestions, and there is much to be said about meshing different aspects of different religions, taking only the best from each. I'll probably get stoned by any religious person for saying this, but I've been to countless Masses, quite a few Mormon services and even a  few protestant services, and while I didn't agree with all the dogmas from any of them, what de Botton says about every religion having its merit wasn't lost on me. Their ideas aren't altogether bad, it's just the way they go about it that can be scary, and reading Religion for Atheists was a great way to see that maybe one day even those of us without any religious inclining can find the comfort of singing together with a room.

The Widow of Larkspur Inn

Title: The Widow of Larkspur Inn 
Author: Lawana Blackwell
Genre: historical
Rating: 3.5/5
Cover: 10/10

While I appreciate that a truly Victorian-time novel would have quite a few links to the church, and God, I did feel that it was a little too heavily laid-on here. Maybe it's just because of my views on religion (I'm an atheist), but it just didn't sit very well with me. It felt a bit like the book itself was preaching, trying to convert me the entire time. Now, despite my religious views, I have nothing against religion, and/or religious people. I don't even mind people trying to convert me. I enjoy getting to know the dogmas of different religions - perhaps there is still a small part of me that wants to find one creed that I can believe in heart & soul, rather than agree with bits and pieces of different religions. I've been to Mormon services (quite a few, too. Long story, and I digress), Baptist services, Catholic services and even some Church of England and Spiritist ... "service" (I forget the name of what the Spiritist do, but I'm pretty sure it's not a service), and I highly enjoyed them all. I talked to priests, pastors, and all that, and am starting to build my own Bible collection, one from each different religion. So, no, it wasn't the fact that it felt like the book was trying to convert me that bothered me. It was just a little too excessive. I can see why a recent widow would turn to God for help, and like I said before, in the Victorian Era, religion was a BIG part of society, but still.

Not only that, but the ending was rushed. After all those chapters creating a rapport for the various characters (and what characters! Oh, so wonderfully three dimensional, all of them! This is character heaven), the last quarter of the book skipped various months and weeks at a time, and frankly, I felt cheated of time with my friends. I know that, for the sake of healing, more time needed to have gone by before wounds healed to the point where a happy ending was possible, but it still bugged me a bit, the jumping.

HOWEVER, as previously mentioned, the characters! Oh, they are so delicious to read! Not one person in the quite extensive cast of characters in 'The Widow of Larkspur Inn' is the dreaded one-dimensional character. They all have rich, wonderful, intriguing back stories. Even the smallest, most insignificant characters has more behind him/her than what first meets the eye, and that is what gives this book a 3.5. If religion puts you off, you HAVE to read this, even if it's just for the characters. Please do. Everyone deserves to read such wonderfully real characters.