I've been slowly branching out into sci-fi. I'm pretty cautious about it, because it's kind of easy for me to be completely bored with some science fiI've been slowly branching out into sci-fi. I'm pretty cautious about it, because it's kind of easy for me to be completely bored with some science fiction books, but I thought this one would really entertain me. The MC sounds strong and likable, the premise as a whole appears interesting, and there's romance. All of that combined should equal a book I had a good time with, yes?
Unfortunately, no. That is not how this book turned out for me. I was actually pretty disappointed, considering how much I honestly thought I'd be into this book.
Beyond Our Stars started off great. I loved how we were pretty much thrown into the situation Hope was facing and were learning things little by little as we went. It kept me engaged and interested. But then the story went back to BEFORE they got to the planet they land on and the story got kind of dull for me. I'd much have preferred to keep going ahead instead of backtracking. After we went back, the story never really gained back to the level of awesome I felt like the very beginning was.
Hope got on my nerves. She contradicted herself all the time, and she wasn't very open to ideas that weren't hers. She pretty much decided what she wanted to do and then stopped caring what anyone else had to say. And then everyone--even the captain/chief person of their spaceship--listened to Hope and followed her without question. Well, except for the rebel people. They didn't listen to her. But still, why did ANYONE listen to her? I don't understand what was so special about her.
And then the rest of the characters...I didn't really care much about them. At all. They all seemed to practically worship Hope, and the ones who didn't were side-eyed by everyone else. I felt like all of the characters were pretty much puppets to do as the plot required. I wasn't attached to any of them. At all. Even when a certain twist happened (though I KNEW how that would turn out, so it wasn't a big deal for me), I didn't care much.
The plot...yeah, I still don't get it. I spent a majority of this book confused as to what the point was. The beginning was so promising, and then everything went downhill. I think the book may be about trying to make this new planet their home, and getting along with the Locals. Okay. But there was other stuff going on that didn't hold up. Things with Legacy--whose mind was very easily changed--and the rest of the rebel people. It all kind of linked. Sort of. I think.
Romance is something I freaking LOVE. I hoped so hard that the romance may be the saving grace in this book. But no. The fact that I didn't feel anything for these characters carried over to the lovey dovey stuff. I didn't care if they ended up together. I have to say, however, that I am glad the guy (his name was Chance, right?) didn't try to make Hope jealous. If he did that, I very well may have had to DNF this book because one more thing on top of the annoying MC and confusing plot with characters I cared nothing about would have been TOO MUCH.
The world building didn't work for me. Just like the plot, I'm still utterly confused about what was going on. I understand the basics. I won't deny that. But I would have preferred to gain a more thorough understanding. The world sounded so interesting, but I don't think we got the explanations necessary to make that boat float.
I have to give this book credit, though. The premise, in general, was awesome, and the writing was pretty good. And the beginning rocked my socks. I have to give credit to the boyfriend/ex-boyfriend who didn't try to make the MC jealous. That made me happy. Other than those few things, though, there wasn't much I liked about this book. I honestly wish I could have found more enjoyment in this story.
I've been slowly branching out into sci-fi. I'm pretty cautious about it, because it's kind of easy for me to be completely bored with some science fiction books, but I thought this one would really entertain me. The MC sounds strong and likable, the premise as a whole appears interesting, and there's romance. All of that combined should equal a book I had a good time with, yes?
Unfortunately, no. That is not how this book turned out for me. I was actually pretty disappointed, considering how much I honestly thought I'd be into this book.
Beyond Our Stars started off great. I loved how we were pretty much thrown into the situation Hope was facing and were learning things little by little as we went. It kept me engaged and interested. But then the story went back to BEFORE they got to the planet they land on and the story got kind of dull for me. I'd much have preferred to keep going ahead instead of backtracking. After we went back, the story never really gained back to the level of awesome I felt like the very beginning was.
Hope got on my nerves. She contradicted herself all the time, and she wasn't very open to ideas that weren't hers. She pretty much decided what she wanted to do and then stopped caring what anyone else had to say. And then everyone--even the captain/chief person of their spaceship--listened to Hope and followed her without question. Well, except for the rebel people. They didn't listen to her. But still, why did ANYONE listen to her? I don't understand what was so special about her.
And then the rest of the characters...I didn't really care much about them. At all. They all seemed to practically worship Hope, and the ones who didn't were side-eyed by everyone else. I felt like all of the characters were pretty much puppets to do as the plot required. I wasn't attached to any of them. At all. Even when a certain twist happened (though I KNEW how that would turn out, so it wasn't a big deal for me), I didn't care much.
The plot...yeah, I still don't get it. I spent a majority of this book confused as to what the point was. The beginning was so promising, and then everything went downhill. I think the book may be about trying to make this new planet their home, and getting along with the Locals. Okay. But there was other stuff going on that didn't hold up. Things with Legacy--whose mind was very easily changed--and the rest of the rebel people. It all kind of linked. Sort of. I think.
Romance is something I freaking LOVE. I hoped so hard that the romance may be the saving grace in this book. But no. The fact that I didn't feel anything for these characters carried over to the lovey dovey stuff. I didn't care if they ended up together. I have to say, however, that I am glad the guy (his name was Chance, right?) didn't try to make Hope jealous. If he did that, I very well may have had to DNF this book because one more thing on top of the annoying MC and confusing plot with characters I cared nothing about would have been TOO MUCH.
The world building didn't work for me. Just like the plot, I'm still utterly confused about what was going on. I understand the basics. I won't deny that. But I would have preferred to gain a more thorough understanding. The world sounded so interesting, but I don't think we got the explanations necessary to make that boat float.
I have to give this book credit, though. The premise, in general, was awesome, and the writing was pretty good. And the beginning rocked my socks. I have to give credit to the boyfriend/ex-boyfriend who didn't try to make the MC jealous. That made me happy. Other than those few things, though, there wasn't much I liked about this book. I honestly wish I could have found more enjoyment in this story.
3.5 stars - a beautifully written, charming fantasy standalone
I really liked An Enchantment of Ravens. As far as fantasy novels go, this one wasn’t to3.5 stars - a beautifully written, charming fantasy standalone
I really liked An Enchantment of Ravens. As far as fantasy novels go, this one wasn’t too heavy or wordy—it’s a 300-page standalone, which I very much enjoyed. It was easy to get into & the plot was good enough to hold my interest whenever I picked the book up.
However, I wasn’t exactly compelled to pick the book up often. I attribute this a lot to my timing—it was an exhausting, busy week at work, so I didn’t quite have the mental fortitude to get as invested as I might have otherwise. But since now IS when I was reading the book, it is the experience I have reading it.
The romance was nice. I will say, it seemed a little sudden the way Rook fell for Isobel, but I don’t particularly hate anything akin to instalove so that isn’t a crime. It did make the love take longer to truly believe, however. Especially since it’s not like Rook was especially forthcoming with his feelings. It took time to see & understand his actions for what they were. That said, Isobel’s half of the love was exactly right. Pitch perfect.
Another important thing to mention is that Margaret Rogerson is clearly a very talented writer. The storytelling is beautiful and definitely one of the strongest aspects of the novel. It’s rare in fantasy for a story to be so tightly written (remember, this book is only 300 pages), but I rather enjoyed the less is more approach to building the world and plot line. And it was certainly effective. The only place I wish there was more was the epilogue, but I was happy with HOW it ended regardless.
Overall, I liked An Enchantment of Ravens a lot, and would definitely recommend it to anyone in the mood to read some fantasy but don’t want to commit to a huge book or a long series. As for myself, I will definitely be picking up another Margaret Rogerson book—hopefully soon!...more
3.5 stars - well written & hard-hitting with a first half that’s better than the second half
I have been excited to pick this one up since I read Girl,3.5 stars - well written & hard-hitting with a first half that’s better than the second half
I have been excited to pick this one up since I read Girl, Unframed last year and got sucked in forever. Deb Caletti is great at writing stories that make you think, with grand doses of atmosphere and mystery. One Great Lie was definitely that, the vibe of the book was so heavy. It told the story so well, making me as uncomfortable as the subject matter should. The storyline of the writing program and what happened within it was truly magnificent. I felt it so hard and I’m sure I’ll continue to think about it for a good while because it was so well written it has wormed its way into my brain. That said, the storyline of the lost poet was not as entrancing to me. And while I truly, truly adore Dante with all my heart, what we get on the page of him is only a glimpse. And since the second half, and especially the end chunk, of the book is focusing on these things, I must admit that the latter portion of One Great Lie struggled to hold my interest.
I liked One Great Lie, but it could have been better for me. I will definitely be picking up more Deb Caletti because her writing is so GOOD. And I end up here with 3 stars for the hooking first half & half a star for the well written but less captivating second half (and Dante, of course). ...more
5 stars - Humor and feels and sweetness, a sequel that's so worth your time!
After falling head over heels for Evie and Luc in The Darkest Star last ye5 stars - Humor and feels and sweetness, a sequel that's so worth your time!
After falling head over heels for Evie and Luc in The Darkest Star last year, I was beyond ready to dive into this beautiful monster of a sequel once I finally got my hands on a copy. As usual, JLA did not disappoint and instead delivered a sequel that rivaled the initial installment--and now I'm sitting here trying to figure out which I actually enjoyed more. (I think The Burning Shadow wins.)
I've been a fan of the Lux series for over seven years now. Every time I pick up a new book in the world, it almost feels like home. That was one of my favorite things about The Burning Shadow--it took me literally no time at all to get swept up in the characters and the story. Things pick up basically right where the last book left off, and then it's easy to settle in.
These characters are phenomenal. Evie is so complex. She's going through a ton, and I felt for her. She's processing while also trying to be normal while also trying to not feel useless. It's a lot for her to put on her shoulders, but I understood. Luc...man, the more we learn about him and get to know him, the more my feelings compound on each other until I think my heart is going to explode? I'm such a fan of Luc. He's got even more weighing on his shoulders than Evie but rarely if ever does he let it show. His humor and his caring are endearing. So basically, we get the Luc we know and love yet again but he'll somehow make us love him even more.
And there's more than just Luc and Evie shining in these pages. I was such a huge fan of Zoe and Heidi and all the friendships. I'm so here for a good friendship. And we get to see characters from the Lux series again, which I'm always grateful for. I know these books are for Luc and Evie and their story but goodness knows I love me some Daemon Black, you know?
Speaking of Luc and Evie and their story, can I mention how in love I am with their romance? Honestly. I can't even. I'm here for it all day every day and I don't think I'll ever get over it. They're so cute and sweet and I love them more than words.
Overall, The Burning Shadow is the kind of sequel that rivals its predecessor, and it's one y'all should definitely not miss. There's humor and feels and sweetness all over these pages that make this monster of a book fly by without a problem. Now I'm just waiting for book 3!...more
After reading (and LOVING) Every Other Weekend by Abigail Johnson, I was in a bit of a mood for YA contemp4 stars - A new fav YA contemporary romance!
After reading (and LOVING) Every Other Weekend by Abigail Johnson, I was in a bit of a mood for YA contemporary. Which hasn't happened in so long, I was excited to go with it and jump into another book right away. All Our Broken Pieces has been on my shelf since late June, and I'd been eyeing it since then. So I picked it up. And I'm so glad I did!
I started the book in mid-November, and was so into it. I always get excited when a book has me enjoying it from the very beginning--because my attention span at the beginning of books is terrible and I get bored easily. I read the first ~80 pages, then life happened (aka, finishing my graduating semester of college and finding a job in the field of my soon-to-be degree) so I went a few weeks without picking it up.
Normally, when things like this happen and I have to step away from a book because of Reasons, it takes some effort to get myself to pick the book back up. Like I said before, my attention span can be terrible. But all those days I didn't have time to read, I had this book on my mind. And then when I saw my opening last weekend I jumped on it and finished the rest of the book in one sitting. And it was so good.
I'm so in love with these two main characters. Kyler is snarky and smart and I was a fan of his sense of humor. Lennon is sweet and down to earth and matched Kyler's humor all the way. Both individually and together, I enjoyed these protagonists. They each had their own issues and struggles, and seeing them work through them gradually throughout the story was awesome.
The romance was 100% my cup of tea. They gave me so many warm fuzzies and I smiled so much while reading. I also appreciated the slight parallels at Romeo & Juliet, for the sake of linking to their project. That said, I kind of wish they hadn't been QUITE so dependent on one another. Like, I'm here for a good, solid, strong bonded relationship. I WANT them to be together all the time too. But they were a little unreasonable at times. But THAT said, I realize that they are teenagers and that probably has a lot to do with the way this aspect was handled.
Another big, favorite aspect of this book for me was the friendships and sibling relationships. Kyler with his friends was great. They were conscientious of his struggles with performing and while they definitely pushed for him to bend on his resolve, it was more of a For the Best thing and not a selfish thing. Kyler was also so nice with his sister--in an older brother-tending-to-pick-on-his-little-sister way, but then when needed he gets so sweet. Lennon also had the cutest relationship with her little brother. She's so kind to him and patient, and I adored that kid.
I also want to say that I appreciated Lennon's relationship with her dad and stepmom. They are by no means perfect, but they clearly care a whole bunch. Honestly, on Lennon's side of the family situation the only real flaw was Andrea--and I think this is in part because that aspect wasn't developed to its full potential.
A few more things I enjoyed/appreciated about the book: - Kyler's lyrics - the OCD rep - the band name suggestions ("Think about it.") - man oh man this book made me so happy!
Overall, I loved All Our Broken Pieces. It wasn't quite a perfect read, but I'm thinking it's a new fav. Definitely one I would recommend!...more
5 stars - Everything I wanted and more, I am head over heels for Storm & Fury!
As someone who both is a huge fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout and really e5 stars - Everything I wanted and more, I am head over heels for Storm & Fury!
As someone who both is a huge fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout and really enjoyed the Dark Elements series, I was seriously looking forward to getting my hands on Storm & Fury. And what a lucky duck I was when it landed on my doorstep in February--on my birthday, no less. It was exciting! So I took a peek at the beginning (even though I meant to be reading something else at the time) and BAM. It got me. I was in. I put aside any other reading plans I may have had and gave all my attention to Storm & Fury, which ended up being my newest bookish obsession.
One of the absolute best aspects of Storm & Fury is the characters. Mainly Trinity, who was an MC I instantly clicked with. She's flawed and real but also a total badass. She has a snarky mouth. A great sense of humor. And let me stress this again--she was so real. I loved her. Then there was Zayne who has a leg up because I liked him well enough in the Dark Elements series. But that's just the thing--I liked him in TDE. I *adored* him in S&F! Like Trinity, he was so real. He was always so perfect in TDE series but in this one we got to know him better, saw more of him and I was such a fan. I am so invested in these characters.
Then there was the writing and plot, which were fantastic. As I said in the beginning of the review, I got drawn in straight away and that enthralled feeling did not give in at all throughout the book. Honestly, it didn't even go away after the book was over. I wanted to keep reading it and reading it and I kind of kicked myself for reading it so early because now I have to wait longer for the sequel. This book was all I wanted and more and the series seems to be going in a direction I'm going to freaking LOVE and I am so excited!
For the record, Storm & Fury is a spin-off of The Dark Elements, but it can totally stand alone. And I say this as a person who still hasn't read the third book of TDE. I understood everything just fine. So if you want to just jump into S&F, I say go for it!
Now for the romance. Y'all. My poor heart. Do you even know how many times it got sent aflutter? Zayne and Trinity are working the most beautiful slow burn I'm smiling now just thinking about it. They are without a doubt one of my new favorite JLA couples and may even end up on top of the list by the end of the series (but I'm hesitant to commit because Daemon & Katy!)
Overall, Storm & Fury was everything I could have hoped it would be and more. With banter and swoons and feels and goodness gracious, everything, this book is my newest obsession--and one of my top favorites of the year....more
5 stars - A gripping introduction to the Origin series that made my heart so happy!
I'm going to be honest, I was nervous to pick this one up. The Lux 5 stars - A gripping introduction to the Origin series that made my heart so happy!
I'm going to be honest, I was nervous to pick this one up. The Lux series is one of my favorites of all time and I was worried how The Darkest Star would stack up. I wanted more from the Lux world, desperately, but what if I ended up hating this spin-off? How disappointing would that be? Well, I need not have worried because I just finished reading The Darkest Star and my heart is so full, y'all. It was amazing.
I've got to start by talking about Luc. Because of course. Many people have said that they like him even better than Daemon. I, however, have a special place in my heart for Daemon Black so I won't go that far...but I do REALLY love Luc. He's complex. He's silly. Arrogant. Kind. And he can be so sweet and caring. He's a genuinely good guy and while I'm not sure I can give him Daemon's throne just yet, he definitely ranks towards the top of my list of favorite JLA guys.
Then there's Evie who I liked from the start and got more and more taken by as the novel unfolded...for multiple reasons. She's a well fleshed out character who also has such an interesting story, in her connection to the Lux world and...ahem. More. That's all I say :)
As for the overall plot, it was pretty darn entrancing. I flew through the whole book in just two days--I read half of it one night and the rest of it the next. And though I was nervous to pick it up, after I DID finally dive in I had no hesitation to continue reading. The story captured me pretty much instantly and I was excited to read and read and read.
I know a big question will be if people can pick this one up without reading the Lux series. The answer to this is YES. The Darkest Star is written and fleshed out to begin its own series, so everything you need to know is in this book for you if you're uninterested in reading the Lux series, or if you would prefer to read this one first. I WILL say, though, that there was a little extra fun of having read the Lux series first, since I recognized characters...especially a certain one that had a certain line which had me going OMG YES I REMEMBER YOU I AM DYING AHHHH. (Yes I was quite excited, don't judge me)
Last but not least, the romance. It's not very in-your-face in this one, but there is a clear connection between Evie and Luc that I loved. They have an instant SOMETHING which grows and grows and sweetens as the novel progresses and it made my heart happy. By the end of the book, I had a smile on my face at their cuteness (I even have one now as I type this) and I am ridiculously excited to see more of them together in the next book.
Overall, I am beyond pleased with this spin-off to the Lux series. I love Luc and Evie and am basically living for their sweetness, and now I hate that I have to wait for book 2! I adored this intro to the Origin series so much, and I am excited to read more!...more
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