I really wasn’t paying attention to this book being released until I saw it at the library. And I really was apathetic, but damn. As someone who lovesI really wasn’t paying attention to this book being released until I saw it at the library. And I really was apathetic, but damn. As someone who loves this series and universe, this might have been my favorite story. It’s short but full of drama and heartbreak even though we all knew how it ended (it is a prequel) after all. Honestly I adored it. ...more
I cannot even properly function after this book. It has literally fucked me up. And I can say no more without ruining it. But god damn that was a helluI cannot even properly function after this book. It has literally fucked me up. And I can say no more without ruining it. But god damn that was a helluva ride. ...more
I don't think I can rate anymore books 5 stars ever again. JK has ruined reading for me with this entire series. I love everything about it, I think iI don't think I can rate anymore books 5 stars ever again. JK has ruined reading for me with this entire series. I love everything about it, I think it's just perfect. And unlike a lot of other writers (I'm looking at you Cassandra Clare) she knows how to end a series by giving the read what you want while also giving you something that you don't quite expect. She's great at this, she did it was the Iron Knight, and again here.
This book is a roller coaster ride from one part to the next. I was sad, I was happy, I was amused, I was everything all at once. I was glad that (view spoiler)[Zeke was back, even though I knew he would be. His character breaks my heart and I love him to death, even as a vampire. He's perfect. Plus I was glad he and Allison finally get together. (hide spoiler)]
I also couldn't help but to wonder if this series is considered YA, because there's a lot of use of the word fuck which I didn't remember in the first two books. I suppose because Jackal was finally letting his inner asshole show, it just seemed all around more graphic. Not that I'm complaining. ...more
I wanted to like this book. No, I wanted to LOVE it. The first two are sitting happily on my favorites list, but somehow the end of this one just realI wanted to like this book. No, I wanted to LOVE it. The first two are sitting happily on my favorites list, but somehow the end of this one just really really turned me off. I really can't pinpoint what it was.
I think I wanted to be ignore the whole tension between George and Shaun. But unfortunately it went the way I didn't want it to go, things got awkward, my ships sank, the clone coming back basically negates all the feelings I had for characters in the first two books, and if I hear anymore about how George needs a Coke, I'm going to punch someone. We get it, you're addicted and I bet you have cavities.
And I'm done. I loved my characters in the last books, I didn't like where it ended up. ...more
So I've gone through a slump of books that were just sort of ok so now I've bounced back to two back to back books I've rated with 5 stars. Lets discuSo I've gone through a slump of books that were just sort of ok so now I've bounced back to two back to back books I've rated with 5 stars. Lets discuss this book a little.
First of all, I really only got this book or knew anything about it because I'd read The Fault in Our Stars earlier this year. The book was so powerful painful that I wanted to try out another John Green book, therefore this book was the first I came across.
This book follows from the perspective of a skinny Florida born loner named Miles and affectionately referred to as Pudge by his new friends at his prep school in mid-Alabama. Pudge meets a whole new group of people who he quickly grows entwined in through a series of pranks, friendships, adventured, and tragedy. The whole book is chaptered in terms of "## of days until" and "## of days after" as the book revolves around the coming and passing of a particular event.
The Setting. I had no idea this book took place in Alabama and as someone who's lived most of their life in such a state, I was particularly skeptical. I'm usually annoyed by southern depictions. For this, please refer to my review of Beautiful Creatures. One of my favorite lines came very early in the book during a description. "You can say a lot of bad things about Alabama, but you can't say that Alabamaians as a people are unduly afraid of deep fryers." After this line, I had no worries, John Green understands the south. His depictions of seasons and characterizations of side and background character further exemplify this.
The Characters. About halfway through this book, I found it hard to differentiate the main 'trio' in this story with that of Charlie, Sam, and Patrick from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I quickly abandoned this. In a way, Pudge is like Charlie. He's easily persuaded and prone to being a follower, though not nearly as emotionally problematic as Charlie was. The Colonel (Chip) is one of my favorite characters because his humor and drinking contrast starkly with his intelligence should be decide to actually put forth the effort. In a way he is much like Patrick in his adventurous spirit. Alaska rounds out the trio, and similar to Sam in Perks, she is an outspoken girl who has a boyfriend outside the circle as well as the attention of our main protagonist. I found that I was much more fond of Alaska than I typically am of many characters who serve to trap the men's attention. She has a lot more going for her than that.
I would find it difficult to talk about this book without telling too much of what happens. But I laughed and I cried and well isn't that how a book should make you feel? Like you give a damn about what happens to these people. ...more
I needed a lovely little delve back into the halfblood world. And overall I enjoyed this. The story is a collection of short stories told from differeI needed a lovely little delve back into the halfblood world. And overall I enjoyed this. The story is a collection of short stories told from different point of voice and about different characters.
Part 1 is Luke's diary. This was easily my favorite story. Luke always has been and will likely always be one of my favorite characters. This story takes place with him and Thalia out on the run just before meeting up with Annabeth. I loved actually see Luke struggling with who he is and even with his ominous future. I would give this part 5 stars.
Part 2 is a story between Percy and Annabeth as they go on the search for Hermes' caduceus. This was just a fun story because I love to see Percy and Annabeth together.
Part 3 is a story about Leo, Piper, and Jason dealing with Bunker 9. Out of the three, this was the one holding the others back, it was just there. I love Leo, but somehow Piper and Leo make him less fun. Blah, this story could be done without.
Part 4 is a story written by RR's son about a son of Hecate named Alabaster who fought on Kronos' side in the Battle for Olympus. This story was just magical. And if I didn't know better, I would think it was written by RR as well. It brings a new perspective to how humans relate to the mythological world. I would totally read more of this story!! ...more
Now that I've had a little time to let everything settle, I would like to just calmly attempt to talk about this book. I think anyone that knows me, kNow that I've had a little time to let everything settle, I would like to just calmly attempt to talk about this book. I think anyone that knows me, knows that I don't usually care for dystopian stories. But this story has everything that I want in other stories, mainly background. When I read these stories, I want to why society has gotten to this point and why people aren't doing anything about it.
In the Darkest Minds, a disease is taking the lives of kids from 8 to 15 I believe. But the kids that do survive this have special gifts. They're all sorted into Red, Yellow, Orange, Blue, and Green, depending on what sort of power they have. The kids are taken off to camps where they can be kept safe from the rest of the country. Needless to say, it sounds very concentration camp-ish.
The story revolves around Ruby who has been at a camp called Thurmond since she was 10. She's 16 when she's mysteriously taken out of the camp. And along the way she meets a group of other kids who protect her from getting taken back to camp: Zu, Chubs, and Liam. Ugh, Liam, who is literally everything I love in a character. He's a good natured person who believes in the good in everyone and protects everyone.
The plots unravel in their desire to locate another psy kid known as The Slip Kid. Drama happens times infinity. And I was left feeling crushed by the end of the book for a number of reasons. Needless to say, I will be picking up the next volume because of reasons. ...more
I'm going to be honest. There were several times I almost put this book down. For a story that's as lacking in complexity as it, it really should haveI'm going to be honest. There were several times I almost put this book down. For a story that's as lacking in complexity as it, it really should have been much shorter. In many cases, the story drug on and on with Ethan and his weird attachment to Lena. I say it's weird, because well it is weird. His obsession with her made me feel uncomfortable sometimes, but thus is the insta-love of YA books.
A lot of things bothered me about this book. The setting was overall a terrible portrayal of the South. I'm not saying it's not accurate, but as someone born and raised in the south, I can tell you for a fact we do not 'all participate in Civil War reenactments', we're not all bitter about the Civil War still, we have more than one store in our town, we have theaters that play current movies, and for god's sake, FOOTBALL is the sport of choice, not basketball. I digress.
I can't sit here and rant because I didn't hate everything about this book. The ending of this book redeemed everything. Despite the fact that it was slightly predictable, I loved it. I cried and I didn't expect that at all!
I'll continue on with the series and we shall see where it goes from there. Only upward I hope. Maybe that's hoping for too much? If they keep killing off side characters I like, this relationship isn't going to last long. ...more
Whew, that was one emotional ride. I swear, I get too attached to fictional characters, it's ridiculous. But I wouldn't change it for anything.
I haveWhew, that was one emotional ride. I swear, I get too attached to fictional characters, it's ridiculous. But I wouldn't change it for anything.
I have to agree with some other opinions that everything felt a little rushed, but I'm ok with that. I didn't feel like there was any dwelling on unnecessary things. And despite the fact that I knew what would happen (come on, I have a tumblr, no one can avoid spoilers there), I still loved it.
Now I think I shall have to look into some new PJ adventures. ...more
As if I didn't already LOVE Julie Kagawa's previous works, this book just makes me want to simultaneously curl into the fetal position forever and worAs if I didn't already LOVE Julie Kagawa's previous works, this book just makes me want to simultaneously curl into the fetal position forever and worship at the alter that is Julie Kagawa. So many conflicting feelings. Where to begin?
This book is the sequel to The Immortal Rules, a dystopian vampire story that took too vastly overdone YA genres and turned them on their head. Here we see our heroine Allison begin her journey to find her sire Kanin. Easier said than done, we quickly become reunited with some familiar faces, some that we wanted to see (*cough*ZEKE*cough*), some we would rather not see again (Jackal, Stick).
I really really will have to keep this short because there's honestly no way that I can write much without spoiling anything. I found this book well paced, with several tense moments, leaving me wondering what was going to happen next. Unlike a lot of books where the outcome is obvious and predictable, I was not able to predict what would happen here. I hoped for the best, and sometimes I got what I wanted. Often I didn't.
I listened to the end of this book in the car. I would not recommend this for two important reasons:
1. I beat on my steering wheel several times out of frustration/anger 2. Tears make it very hard to drive.
Anger, followed by tears, not a good mix when behind the wheel of a car. I dare anyone to jump into this book and not shed at least one tear within the last 30 minutes. Because that's where it gets you. By this time in most books, the climax as ended, and everything is drawing to a close. Julie does not afford us that favor. That's when she takes your feelings, rips them out, stomps on them, and then promptly ends the book. I'm not afraid to admit that I cried for a good 20 minutes during and after the book. THAT scene. You all who have read it know the one. Officially the nuclear bomb of feelings. I can't even talk about it anymore.
Is the next book out yet? No.... Ok well just leave me here to drown.
I honestly feel bad at the end of this book. I feel bad that I didn't like it more. I think I continually go into Cassandra's books with my expectatioI honestly feel bad at the end of this book. I feel bad that I didn't like it more. I think I continually go into Cassandra's books with my expectations set so high that nothing could possibly work. I set myself up for this, but it was my own trust and other rave reviews that clouded my judgement.
I have two main complaints with this book, each of with garnered the removal of a star from my rating.
1. This book was far too long. Once the battle with Mortmain was over and I realized there were still 3 hours left, I couldn't help but to feel something else dramatic was going to happen. But no, nothing happened. It was merely another 2 and half hours of character development that wasn't really necessary (which leads into my second point). The last half hour of the epilogue was the only part I felt like I actually cared about.
2. Predictable. This book ended the exact way everyone knew it would and how all the fans had predicted. And that's part of what made the end drag out. Everyone had predicted what would happen, so then having to live through it felt like pulling teeth. There was no surprise, no shock, nothing. It was a let down and I feel like Clare might have been just too hung up on what the fans wanted to happen. It's ok to kill of a character, it's ok for things NOT to work out. I can't help but to feel like we didn't get the ending that was best for the story, we just got the one that she knew people wanted.
Lots of people are going to love this book, lots of people already do. I loved parts of this book and I do love many of the characters. I wouldn't have cried so much during the epilogue if I didn't. I just expected more than a shining bow on a neatly wrapped up conclusion. ...more
There are so many things I love about this book, there's no way I could list them all. First of all, this is a great conclusion to the series. It tiesThere are so many things I love about this book, there's no way I could list them all. First of all, this is a great conclusion to the series. It ties up strings that were left unraveled in all of the books. And this book was so fast paced, you were hit with new information and revelations at every turn. And I love that.
I've said this before, but I love the characters in this series. There's so many and they're all so well defined, even the ones that I didn't like. But so many are so real it's impossible not to like them. Ugh I had so many feelings about so many of them. RAISA! HAN! MICAH! CAT! DANCER! Even you ALGER! You're all going to be the death of me.
So if you like high fantasy, kick ass heroines, guys that don't make you want to stab your eyes out, relationships that doesn't revolve around your typical love triangles, action, adventure, magic, or pure awesome? Then you should read this series. ...more
Out of all the books in this series, this was my favorite. I loved the change of narrator. Even though I never particularly liked Ash, his pov was mucOut of all the books in this series, this was my favorite. I loved the change of narrator. Even though I never particularly liked Ash, his pov was much more interesting then I thought it would be. Plus it was nice to see the guy change up his life for the girl instead of the other way around. All in all, I loved it, but I still like Puck best....more
I'm going to be honest, as formulaic as I think CC's books are sometimes (characters development, small conflicts, a task that suddenly just the main I'm going to be honest, as formulaic as I think CC's books are sometimes (characters development, small conflicts, a task that suddenly just the main character can undertake, an ending battle that doesn't go as planned, etc.) it worked in this book so well. **Caution for possible spoilers ahead**
Starting Clockwork Angel was a struggle because I was sure I wouldn't like this world more then I did MI. But after finishing Clockwork Prince, I think ID might be tops =)
Lets talk about pluses: 1. No main character POV hogging: This is one of the things I love about CC's books and I think what helps to flesh out her supporting characters. It's good to see all the characters from differing points of view, even from the POV of a character that dislikes them. That's what makes them more real.
2. Love Triangle Angst: Not as bad as I thought it would be. Honestly, it's one of the things I dislike about most YA books are the predictable love triangles. Would it kill the author to bring in more available, likeable girls? But I digress. I find William to be much more likeable then Jace in MI, and I say this because after the first book, I'd thrown them both into a column of same character, different timeline. That's changed now. Tessa is a likeable heroine and Jem is so much more then the best friend who falls in love with the girl as well. It's impossible to see how it could work out without someone being devastated. Oh the angst!
3. Speaking of angst, that was one of my favorite parts. Angst among the main trio, angst between Henry and Charlotte, angst between Sophie and Gideon, etc. But instead of being some completely out there reasoning like not being able to be with someone because being in their kingdom could kill you (no disrespect to Iron Fey, I love that series), but the reasons were down to earth. Sophie's uncertainy of her place, Gideon of his family, Charlotte and Henry of their love for one another, the trio as mentioned above. In a world of fantasy they had real world problems.
4. Magnus' small but important role: Magnus' SL seemed hardly there, but it was important, mostly as a foreshadow to MI verse Magnus. I love seeing his differences and similarities between the two verses, unlike Camille who is about as boring as a piece of paper. I feel bad for him in this period, but I know things will get better in the future. I'm interested to see if he and Will interact again, they are quite entertaining with one another.
5. Ed Westwick's sexy man voice: Lets be real, after listening to COFA, I had to have this book on audio. I could have done with him narrating the whole book, but that wasn't my choice. When he did, it was magical.
Things I didn't like: 1. This was mainly a lack of villain. I would have loved to see Mortmain again, he intrigues me. Nate is hardly a good stand in and the clockwork creatures are troublesome, but no villains. I assume this will be alleviated in the finale.
Clearly I've spoken enough about this book, though in all honesty I feel as if I could write loads more. If you love Mortal Instruments, you should get into this series, you won't be disappointed. And if you are, well don't take it out on me =)...more
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