So much dystopian! Is the Across the Universe considered dystopian? Sci-fi dystopian, yes. Let's go with that. It has elements of both, so why not? Ok, I continue with my young adult book obsession with 9 completed books this month.
I'm not even that drawn to the dystopian genre, it just happens that's what I chose to read. I think I have two more dystopian novels to read. One is Prodigy, and the other is an anthology. I also have the Uglies trilogy, I forgot about those.
I feel like I didn't even read that much, but when I pile them up I did. I'm currently 12 books ahead (29 books read) of my 50 book challenge, so I'm tempted on bumping that up to either 60 or 70. It's not a challenge if I'm staying way ahead, right?
Fallen #3
I'll admit, I went into this book expecting it to be bad. I was not happy with the ending of Torment, and wanted to shake some sense into Luce. I actually enjoyed going into Luce's past, which is basically all that's happening in this one.
I was a bit confused by the ending, some things seriously don't add up, mainly time wise. But that's the tricky thing about time travel in stories. Idk, I got over it, but it still kind of bugs me.
I'll probably read Rapture, but I don't have plans to for a while. It's one of those series that I can pace myself with, which is a good thing. I've mentioned it before, I hate the feeling of wanting the next book so badly that I can't read anything else. Drives me insane.
Across the Universe #2
This book picks up 3 months after Across the Universe. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book, and the impending mutiny. However, the mutiny wasn't as intense as I expected it to be. I was actually dreading it (it was obvious it was coming), but it wasn't too bad. I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but I didn't think it would end well. It's hard to explain, but it's one of those things where I don't like certain situations to happen in books. I was afraid that I would get mad, and not finish the book. Kind of like why I didn't like Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick. I hated the jealousy aspect, because I started to feel it for Nora (that's what good writing does, though). You know, I expected to feel something like that with A Million Suns.
Thankfully I did not feel that! I was annoyed at the rebellion, and why they were doing it (and the food distro guy, UGH!), but again, that's good writing, in my opinion (I bring this up several times, so I'm trying to prepare you for the repetitiveness).
Not as good as Across the Universe, but still pretty darn entertaining. I'll reread it someday.
Tiger's Curse #2
I'm going to warn you right now, there will be spoilers. If you don't want anything spoiled for you for this book, or Tiger's Curse, don't continue with the rest of the review. Skip to the next book, please. You have been warned. Ok, now that that's over, let's get to the good part. The book takes place right where Tiger's Curse left off; she's on the plane to Oregon. I didn't realize it at first, but I love it when the sequels are back to back like this, and I'm not missing a giant patch of time between them. After finishing, the whole part of her in Oregon just feels like a different book. I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just that the events there and in India seem so different in contrast.
I liked the quest of this one better, and I liked the battle Kelsey was having with her own heart. It's obvious that she has feelings for Kishan, even though she doesn't want to admit it. With Ren basically being out of the picture for the moment, it's easy for her to fall back on Kishan while they're on the quest.
But the ending! Oh my gosh, I almost cried. I always say that whenever a book makes me feel any sort of emotion, be it hatred towards a character, or sadness when one dies, the writer did their job, and boy did Colleen Houck do her job! I think what hit home was when he said he didn't like peaces and cream ice cream. I felt so bad for Kelsey at that moment.
I did read the 4 chapters from Tiger's Voyage on the website (technically 5 since the prologue is included), and it does get better. I wish the fifth one was out, but since she's still writing it, I'm going to hold off on reading any further in the series. Or at least take my time on it.
April 11-13
Unearthly #2
The whole point of this book is that someone is going to die. Right away I had it narrowed down to two people. It was a bit obvious. I don't know, it was an interesting read, but as I'm writing this (the day I'm posting this, as opposed to right after I finish the book like the others) I don't remember too much. To be honest I forgot I read this book this month (as well as the one directly below this).
The story overall was enjoyable, I will be getting Boundless (#3) when it comes out in paperback (prob. next year).
I do remember how sad this book is. There wasn't any real bad guy. This is one of those times where the antagonist is a situation, which isn't even a surprise. You know it's coming pretty early on. I did enjoy it, I know it may not seem like it, but I did.
April 14
Firelight #1
I read this one in one day! I clearly had nothing better to do that day. Jacinda is a Draki (descendent of dragons). She's the only fire-breather to be born in her pack (?) for at least a hundred years. Jacinda breaks one of the Draki's biggest rules, and flies during the day time (the other one being to never let a human/hunter know they can switch to human form). A group of hunters finds her, and hunts her down. Her life is saved by a hunter named Will who pretends to not find her. Then her family is forced to run to the human world, and it all just get's more complicated from there.
Jacinda has a twin sister, and the whole time I keep thinking about how much I hate her. She never manifested into her dragon form, so basically she's human with dragon blood in her. She can't do anything, though. She's jealous of Jacinda, and never really fit in with the rest of the Draki. When they flee to the human world, she's super happy, even though it means that Jacinda's mother is trying to kill of the Draki. That's basically why they leave (not really a spoiler, the information comes quickly), to turn Jacinda into a human. I mean, how would it feel that your own mother is trying to literally kill off a part of you? A part of you that you love, and have known your whole life? I would feel betrayed, and incredibly hurt, and probably hatefull. And the whole time her sister is telling her "don't ruin this for me." I mean, really? I could slap her.
I did look ahead at what happened in this series, I didn't want to read on originally. I enjoyed the series, it just didn't grab me the way I wanted it to. However, now that I have read on I want to know why she makes the choice she does. I will get to the rest of the books in the trilogy, eventually. I foresee a month where I try to finish up some of these series coming up in the future.
Divergent #1
I didn't know a whole lot going into this book. I knew about the factions, and it was dystopian, but that's about it. Basically in Chicago there are 5 factions. I bought the box set, which included a little booklet, and I referred to that so many times in the beginning whenever a faction is mentioned. It was hard to keep the strait. The factions are Abnegation (they reminded me of the Amish), Amity (peace and love, kind of like hippies), Candor (stove to be honest all the time), Erudite (knowledge seekers), and Dauntless (brave and tough). On their sixteenth birthday, then youth get to choose their factions. They go through a test that tells the, which faction they're better suited for, but in the end it's their choice. They can pick a new one, or stick with the one they were born into. Beatrice was born into Abnegation. She knows she doesn't belong there, but is unsure which one to choose. The book follows her throughout her faction of choice's initiation process.
It's a really interesting process, I doubt I could do it. No, I know I couldn't do it. I really enjoyed this book. Out of the books I've read so far, it's probably the most unique plot line. I also enjoyed the love interest. I find that with a lot of book relationships the male love interest loses some some of his macho-ness. It becomes too mushy. With this, they stayed tough, and while it did get mushy, it wasn't on that fine line of annoying.
Overall it was really interesting, and I like the hint at the twist at the end of Insurgent.
I was reading a discussion on Goodreads about which faction people would be in. I would be either Erudite, Divergent, or Factionless.
Divergent #2
Second book in the Divergent series. This one takes off right where Divergent left off.
Overall it was a very good book. Not quite as good as Digergent. I enjoyed the Character development that Tris went through. She's not this prissy girl, and became tougher in this book.
I can't wait for the Divergent movie to come out next year. I'm interested to see what Shailene Woodley does with the character of Tris.
Across the Universe #3
Oh my goodness this book!!!!!! I can''t even talk about it without giving things away, and that bothers me.
I need friends who have read this book. The ending was amazing. I admired Beth Revis's writing style since I first read Across the Universe. Then the last few chapters of this book solidified it for me. Beth Revis is probably one of my favorite authors. The way she writes makes the story so much more powerful. Amazing trilogy.
Also, quick little detail that I noticed in Across the Universe, but is actually explained in this book. The little image that replaces the regular Razor Bill logo is the same one that is embossed on the hard back versions of the first and second books. It's the Godspeed logo! I thought that was clever, and interesting. Maybe I'm alone in that, but hey, it made me smile.
Legend by Marie Lu
April 28-29
Legend #1
So there's this boy, named Day. He's a criminal, and the Republic has no idea what he looks like,which makes him the most wanted. Then there's this girl, June. Day is accused of killing June's brother. June goes off to find, and track Day down to bring him to justice.
For me, this book was what I expected. I haven't heard a lot about this book, but I have heard about all the hype it's gotten. Mind boggler, I know. I heard about the hype, but not about the actual hype. Did that make it easier to understand? Probably not. Anywho, I didn't know too much going into it. It was good, but not one of my favorites.
I really liked that Day's chapters were in a different color (gold) and font. It helped when I was reading the book. I enjoyed his chapters more than June's. He was so entertaining.
The only complaint I have is that I don't feel connected with the world. What is the society like? We're only shown the slums, and military life. I know there's more, they mention acting, but what would a person do to achieve that? How do the Trials come to play with the rest of the population (such as business owners in the wealthier areas)? What was with the 1990s coin, and "I knew it existed"? Were they never taught that America existed? It was never mentioned how much of the past the new dystopian society is taught. I hope these questions are answered in Prodigy.
