Allegiant - Veronica Roth

Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: Young Adult: Dystopian, Fiction, Romance

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com):  One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Review:

Why I’m not happy: Well the obvious. At this point, if you haven’t read about this book I’m sure you’ve at least heard about it, so NOT spoiling it is probably null and void at this point. It’s not fun to get attached to characters and have them killed off one at a time. (No, not EVERYONE dies – but it sure felt like it). I’m generally okay with some of the stronger supporting characters dying in a book. However, I’m not really all that fond of having one or more of the main characters die. Why – well, just because. That’s why.

Why I’m not mad: Veronica Roth told why what happened had to happen in her MTV interview. I get it. I do understand, and I see her point. I, personally, would not set out to write a book that ends in tragedy, because well, I don’t read books for tragedy. I like wrapped up, mostly happy endings. They don’t have to be perfect. We don’t have to all end in unicorn land and everyone be 110% happy, but I like relative happiness. However, this is not my piece of literature. And since the ending really didn’t come out of left field, I guess I get it.

Why I’m not happy: What the heck is up with Tris’s super-Divergence? Unexplained abilities to avoid truth serum, and death serum? No explanation? And, no, Tobias’ “stubborn” explanation does not cover it.

Why I’m not mad: Tobias’ end of the story really does seem to jive well. He’s made massive strides and growth at the very end. He’s made decisions and I think in the end he can respect himself more than ever.

Why I’m not happy: I’m not a fan of the whole “outside” portion in general. I sort of fall into a minority on this one, given some of the conversations I’ve had with people. I feel like Allegiant was the first book of an entirely new (albeit spinoff) series, not the conclusion of an existing series. And at this point, even if there were a spin-off, I don’t trust V.R. to not break my heart, so it’s not overly likely I’d read it. I’m kind of done with this world anyhow.

Why I’m not mad: I’m so glad that someone stepped down within the walls before everyone got killed. Man, that would have sucked. I did feel like Evelyn and Tobias’ scene was almost a tiny bit cheesy. After all her demanding, driven, power hungry movement – how can she just chalk it up to “you should have told me,” and then just walk away from everything. That seemed extremely out of character, no matter how many quick additional scenes are added to the book in an attempt to soften her up a bit. But you know what? I’m glad. I’m glad there was someone there for Tobias, someone who does, in fact, love him.

Why I’m not happy: THERE IS A MOVIE! Ugh, I don’t know if I can put myself ---willingly--- through heartache. I just don’t know. Plus my husband would hate me for doing it to him as well.

Why I’m not mad: The books are always better than the movie anyway, so if I decide against it; no harm no foul, right?

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle Book 2) - Maggie Stiefvater

Title:  The Dream Thieves
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: Young Adult (or New Adult) - Fantasy/Romance

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

Review: 
The Dream Thieves. What can I say about you?

I’ve been holding off on writing a review for this book because, well I’m torn. I loved it, and I hated it. For two different reasons.

I love this book because Maggie Stiefvater is a master of storytelling. Her writing has always captivated me, from the minute I picked up Lament I knew I’d found a gem of an author. She grabs you in an creates these worlds you could live in…or actually, sometimes I don’t really want to live in them, but I can for sure believe they exist. I love that about these books. When I read The Raven Boys I was so wrapped up in the characters, I had a hard time believing she was writing in the current time period. My mind wanted to place the entire story back in the 50’s for some reason, and I’ve maintained that visual throughout The Dream Thieves. Obviously, this isn’t true, but I can’t let the image slip.

I enjoyed getting to know Ronan more, and figuring out the things that make him tick. I must admit, there are many qualities I like about him now that I just didn’t see in him during The Raven Boys. I’m sure this was purposeful, but I’m glad for it, because I really didn’t care much for him before at all. I’ve already read this book through twice. This is very surprising considering what I’m going to say below. I wanted to give it a second chance because I felt like my opinion had become colored by my emotions about some of the events, and I missed some things. I will say the second time through I enjoyed the book more. I came to appreciate Blue and Gamsey’s careful relationship, and although he made me love him and hate him in the same book, Adam’s nature. There is so much information to glean from this book, and I’m looking forward to the conclusion of this story – because I just know it’s going to be good.

I will say, especially the first time through, I felt like this book was doing a whole lot of not moving forward. It felt slow paced – if you don’t count the car racing, which I have to admit made me want a slick sports car, and I’m an avid car-hater. You’ll never catch me ogling a car, as the four wheeled creatures have given me nothing but trouble in my life. Outside of that, I kept hoping for a little more action. And there is a bit, but it still was just a bit slow.

Okay, now for the bad part. I cannot condone or like a “young adult novel” that has drug use in it – especially when it is described. I tolerate the mention of it, or if it’s eluded to. I know that it is real life, this stuff happens…trust me I grew up around this stuff. I’ve seen way more of it than I care to divulge. It is not pretty. Nothing about it is good or right or should be…I can’t say glorified, because it makes it sound like that was what happened in the book – in reality it even leaned in the direction of a negative light. But not enough. It made it seem normal, or casual or something. It left such a bad taste in my mouth I had a very difficult time finishing the book that first time around. The second time I was listening to it via audio, and it was over quicker that way, since the first I kept putting the book down – it dragged on. I still didn’t like it. It still hurts my heart that it was even there, because I love Maggie Stiefvater’s books and writing so much. I wish, wish, wish she had found some other way to do that whole scene/character, etc. I will leave it at that.

Easy by Tammara Webber

Title:  Easy
Author:  Tammara Webber
Genre: New Adult - Romance/Overcoming Circumstances

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com):   
Rescued by a stranger.
Haunted by a secret
Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.

A groundbreaking novel in the New Adult genre, Easy faces one girl's struggle to regain the trust she's lost, find the inner strength to fight back against an attacker, and accept the peace she finds in the arms of a secretive boy.

Review: 
Easy was easily not what I was expecting, yet satisfying in so many ways. The number one reason I love this book; it addresses rape, and the different levels of it – and clearly defines what rape is without it being a text book. My hope is that anyone who reads this book and…may have found themselves in this situation, will feel empowered by the book and not discouraged. The consequences of being embarrassed and confused and letting anyone get away with something as ugly as rape is unnecessary, although it might be hard to stand up and fight against. I think Easy addressed it so very well.

Outside of that, I loved this book for Jacqueline and Luke’s story. It was a typical love story between good girl and apparently bad boy. A love of wonderful kissing scenes and so much respect and love shared. Their story felt real and wonderful and hard at the same time. There was no really one of those huge dramatic partings in the middle of this book where boy sits in one corner and sulks and pouts, and girl sits in the other corner and sulks and pouts until the two decide that their differences are stupid and they come back together. Thank you for that!

This book is most certainly, without a doubt, a part of the new adult category – despite it’s placement on my libraries website. There is language, sexual content, and of course rape (none of the above is graphic baring the language of course). There are many adult situations. I do not recommend this book for teenagers.

Throne of Glass - Sarah J Maas

Title:  Throne of Glass
Author:  Sarah J. Maas
Genre:  Young Adult - Fantasy, Romance, Action

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com):  After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Review:  I can’t even remember how I came across this book, honestly.   It seems like I was poking around on Goodreads, and noticed on something – but then again, it seems like it was on Amazon.com first, because I remember their descriptions/synopsis sucked, so I went to Goodreads to see if I could get something better – which of course I did.  Goodreads almost always has a good description of the book.  Plus, if you read reviews, they are mostly reliable. 

So Throne of Glass; first of all, the first thing I think of is “Game of Thrones,” which I think is natural given the popularity of the show and books, so I had to do a double take to realize that this book had nothing to do with the other.  Reading the synopsis, I knew immediately this was a book that I would be interested in, and hoped that the reviews were trustworthy.  THANK YOU follow bloggers/Goodreads reviewers, you did not steer me wrong in this one.  I absolutely loved this book.

Describing Throne of Glass to my husband was interesting to say the least.  I don’t usually talk about books with him, just because the majority of the books I read he wouldn’t be interested in, but I knew that this one was just interesting enough that he’d probably be okay discussing it with me.  However, I used a myriad of similes while describing this book to try to give him an idea of what we were dealing with.  The first is an obvious, Celaena is a lot like Katniss of the Hunger Games, however minus any self doubt, in that she is just simply awesome.  Celaena was trained from the age of 8 to be an assassin, and she is quite simply the best.  She knows it, and anyone who has ever heard her name knows it.  The next comparison I made was between Celaena and Sherlock Holmes (hear me out here)!  We are not talking about the books – which is what confused my husband – but the most recent movies with Robert Downey Jr.  The scenes where he sees what’s coming and he mentally goes through all the moves as to how he’s going to get out of the situations.  Celaena does this as well, as an assassin, she is trained to know the easiest and most effective way to get out of situations, so from the beginning she is constantly mentally going through scenarios as to how she can disarm, escape, kill, etc.  However, she is smart enough to watch all the cards on the table and see what hand she is being dealt.  This constant awareness, though, starts to happen less frequently as Celaena gets more comfortable with her surroundings and the people around her.  As she becomes less of a being looking to defend and look out for herself, and more of a girl with emotions and a great personality.  And finally, as a description of the kingdom that we are looking at, I briefly used the BC show’s Merlin, a kingdom where magic exists, but it is illegal/banned/will get you killed in a heartbeat. 

So here we are, combining many of my favorite book attributes into one beautiful novel.  Er, well series actually.  Of course.  Unfortunately, the storyline of the love triangle is not lost on this book either. I mean, everything else was included too, right?  (I HATE LOVE TRIANGLES!)  I will say, that within this novel, the romance is a byproduct of the book.  It was perfectly played out.  Celaena was a little oblivious, or maybe not oblivious, but being obtuse when it came to the men in her life, but still yet, it wasn’t horrible.  What IS horrible is the fact that both Prince Dorian and Captain Westfall are equally as appealing.  It makes it very difficult to come to grips with the love triangle when there isn’t a clear cut “I like this guy” in the scenario.    So outside of that, I loved this story – Celaena is fighting for her freedom, which comes with a cost of it’s own, but at least she has a definite goal and end in sight, and she’s no longer a slave in a salt prison, right?  I’m sure that this all plays out interestingly in future books.  But then throw in the elements of magic, and it’s not overwhelming within the book – just enough to keep you interested and curious.  It makes you want to know who Celaena really is, and how this is going to end.  This, in my eyes, makes Sarah J. Mass a great story teller.  She’s got foreshadowing down to an art, however did not leave the book in some scream-worthy cliff hanger…just enough to make you want more.  NEED more!

Fantasy/romance/strong-female character/evil kingdoms/injustice/rebellion – all the wonderful beautiful elements in creating a story…a fairytale if you will, that you will not want to miss!

Release Day Blitz - Seeing Light by Michelle Warren

Seeing Light

The Seraphina Parrish Trilogy # 3

Genre- YA Fantasy/ Time Travel

Publication Date- October 10th, 2013 

As the corruption of the Society intensifies and the questions surrounding her mother mount, Seraphina Parrish embarks on a journey to find Terease in the terrifying Wandering city of Nocturna. But the information she learns there only sends her team on a dangerous mission to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Delving deep into the disturbing secrets of their world, the revelations quickly unravel, revealing shocking truths about the Society and Sera’s life. In the end, power and courage clash in a mission for freedom that may shatter the Wandering world completely.