The Leaving is the newest (debut?) book by Tara Altebrando and it's the aftermath of 5 kids coming home from an abduction. There were originally six but one, Max, didn't return home and now the kids have to figure out who took them, why they were chosen, why Max didn't return, and how to retrieve their memories. The plot is really hard to explain because it's so intricate. There are three point of views: Lucas and Scarlett (they were apart of The Leaving), and Avery (sister of Max who was abducted). I would not recommend reading this book on an electronic device due to the grammatical and formatting errors that occur.
The characters in this book were just okay. They were all exceptionally bland and Scarlett and Lucas sounding so extremely similar they could just be continuations of each other's chapters. Avery was a complete brat and I wanted to strangle her half the time. She was upset because her mom was crying all the time and then she was disappointed her brother didn't turn up dead. Then, she was completely focused on Sam and Luke and she was so self-centered that I couldn't stand her. She has to be my most hated character I have ever read and I've read some pretty bad characters. The secondary characters were nothing special and I'll be lucky if I remember in them in a day. This book was just not strong in the character department.
This plot could've gone crazy places. There could've been such amazing curveballs that you would've never guessed who took them or why or anything else. Instead, it was so painfully obvious that it hurt. I wasn't sure at first but when one of the character' were introduced oddly I just knew that they had a connection with their disappearances and they did. There were also holes in the plot and we never figured out why something happened and who was doing it. This is one of the most disappointing books that I've read of 2016.
1/5 Stars
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
A Darker Shade of Magic Review
A Darker Shade of Magic is an intense book about a young man named Kell who can travel into different Londons. They're not parallel universes per say, but they're definitely connected and he's the only one who can travel through them. He meets a girl named Lila and this book is their adventure through the different Londons and trying to stop a stone from destroying his world.
This book is amazing. Victoria Schwab is a fantastic writer and her books are so captivating and spellbinding. I feel like I'm apart of the world I'm reading when it comes to her books. This book does have a few different perspectives, all in third person, but it works so amazingly well. You want to get inside all the character's heads. At least I did. I needed to know what was happening and why all those things were happening. Black London was extremely mysterious and it kept it's mystery which I loved. Some authors give a book a little mystery and lets it die away. It never did in this book, and it never gave us too much. This book did end on a good note so I'm kind of surprised it's getting a trilogy, but who wouldn't want to know what else these characters are getting into? Hopefully Black London will be explored.
All the characters were wonderfully written and felt realistic. I didn't think any of them were outrageous or crazy. Kell is such an easy protagonist to love and Lila is the badass heroine sidekick that spiced this book up. The characters remind me a lot of August and Kate (This Savage Song) and it almost seems like same characters just different plot, but if it works why change it? I was shocked by one characters betrayal. I figured he wasn't on Kell's side but I didn't expect him to turn his back on him. It added so much to this book though.
5/5 Stars
This book is amazing. Victoria Schwab is a fantastic writer and her books are so captivating and spellbinding. I feel like I'm apart of the world I'm reading when it comes to her books. This book does have a few different perspectives, all in third person, but it works so amazingly well. You want to get inside all the character's heads. At least I did. I needed to know what was happening and why all those things were happening. Black London was extremely mysterious and it kept it's mystery which I loved. Some authors give a book a little mystery and lets it die away. It never did in this book, and it never gave us too much. This book did end on a good note so I'm kind of surprised it's getting a trilogy, but who wouldn't want to know what else these characters are getting into? Hopefully Black London will be explored.
All the characters were wonderfully written and felt realistic. I didn't think any of them were outrageous or crazy. Kell is such an easy protagonist to love and Lila is the badass heroine sidekick that spiced this book up. The characters remind me a lot of August and Kate (This Savage Song) and it almost seems like same characters just different plot, but if it works why change it? I was shocked by one characters betrayal. I figured he wasn't on Kell's side but I didn't expect him to turn his back on him. It added so much to this book though.
5/5 Stars
Thursday, July 21, 2016
This Is Where It Ends Review
This is not an easy book to read; some people may not be able to handle the events that happen in this book. This book will not leave you with happiness, but it will leave you with hope. This book is controversial with the topic. This should be read by everyone. This book is This Is Where It Ends. A book told in a 55 minute time span filled with panic, anger, sadness, regret, and hope. May we never forget hope in an event like this.
I don't know how to write a review on a book like this because frankly I don't know what to say about it. I was left devastated by the events in this book. This will show you what some people have actually gone through. Not everyone agrees with the portrayal of the shooter, but most of the readers reading this have never been in an event like this and we will never get inside a shooters head. How do we know this is not how they are? How do we know this is? This is realistic fiction but fiction nonetheless and the author did this to how she felt the character may be. Personally, I think she did amazing. The shooter was not all evil. He had dimension to him. He was shown in good light and bad light. His ex-girlfriend defended him thinking that he could not do such a thing. His sister did everything in her power to prevent him from hurting more people. He was a person. He had is bad and his good sides like everyone else. His bad side just got the best of him in the end. These four perspectives may seem like it was too much for a book that is only 287 pages, but I thought it showed different connections that people may have had with the shooter. You had his sister, her girlfriend that he was jealous of, his ex, and a protective brother who had it out for him. How could you not form a connection with any of them? Especially seeing them in an event like this, it made me root for them and hope that they would all end up okay. They don't but that's the reality.
This is a hard book to review for. I can't even put stars on it because I don't think a book like that should be rated like that. This book needs to be read and absorbed and thought about. This is a book that will leave you uncomfortable but it should. This is what our world is going to. Everyone should be very worried.
I don't know how to write a review on a book like this because frankly I don't know what to say about it. I was left devastated by the events in this book. This will show you what some people have actually gone through. Not everyone agrees with the portrayal of the shooter, but most of the readers reading this have never been in an event like this and we will never get inside a shooters head. How do we know this is not how they are? How do we know this is? This is realistic fiction but fiction nonetheless and the author did this to how she felt the character may be. Personally, I think she did amazing. The shooter was not all evil. He had dimension to him. He was shown in good light and bad light. His ex-girlfriend defended him thinking that he could not do such a thing. His sister did everything in her power to prevent him from hurting more people. He was a person. He had is bad and his good sides like everyone else. His bad side just got the best of him in the end. These four perspectives may seem like it was too much for a book that is only 287 pages, but I thought it showed different connections that people may have had with the shooter. You had his sister, her girlfriend that he was jealous of, his ex, and a protective brother who had it out for him. How could you not form a connection with any of them? Especially seeing them in an event like this, it made me root for them and hope that they would all end up okay. They don't but that's the reality.
This is a hard book to review for. I can't even put stars on it because I don't think a book like that should be rated like that. This book needs to be read and absorbed and thought about. This is a book that will leave you uncomfortable but it should. This is what our world is going to. Everyone should be very worried.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
More Happy Than Not Review
*This books deals with the topic of suicide, depression, and drugs*
More Happy Than Not is the debut novel of Adam Silvera and follows a boy named Aaron who lives in a rough part of NYC. During the story, he meets a guy named Thomas and starts developing feelings for him. When he gets denied, he wants to have a memory altering surgery to help him forget about Thomas and being gay. This story is quite emotional and follows a young man who can't quite accept himself though others have.
This book got quite a lot of hype when it came out and I expected it to live up to it but for me it did not. I'm not really into the writing style of this book. There were certain phrases repeated 14-15 times and when it's a book that's only 200 and something pages, it get a little annoying. Now, I know that it is set in the Bronx and people talk kind of different since it's not the best part of town. I lived in New York for most of my life so I do know, but it was still annoying at how hard it seemed to be ghettoish. The plot twist that so many people were shocked about didn't shock me in the least. I guessed it long before it happened. It just seemed to obvious.
I thought the main character was extremely young sounding. For all the things he had been through, he didn't seem to mature at all. Instead, he decided to run from his problems and forget that it ever happened. I just didn't agree with the idea that someone could decide that they were going to forget something that happened in their lives. It left a bad taste in my mouth. None of the characters wowed me. They were your average kids that grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and are a little messed up from it. Aaron's obsession with Thomas was a little weird. If the kid isn't gay, I don't know why you're trying to convince him that he just hasn't come out yet and you'll wait for him. You can't force your sexuality on someone else no matter how much you want that person. This was happening non-stop in the book: Gen with Aaron, Aaron with Thomas, and Aaron with Collin.
I'm the minority here with this book because it does have such amazing reviews and I'm sitting here wondering how on earth it got as many good reviews as it did. Maybe I'm picky and just looking for things not to like. Who knows. I wouldn't say it's a fantastic LGBTQ+ book. Don't listen to me though.
2/5 Stars
More Happy Than Not is the debut novel of Adam Silvera and follows a boy named Aaron who lives in a rough part of NYC. During the story, he meets a guy named Thomas and starts developing feelings for him. When he gets denied, he wants to have a memory altering surgery to help him forget about Thomas and being gay. This story is quite emotional and follows a young man who can't quite accept himself though others have.
This book got quite a lot of hype when it came out and I expected it to live up to it but for me it did not. I'm not really into the writing style of this book. There were certain phrases repeated 14-15 times and when it's a book that's only 200 and something pages, it get a little annoying. Now, I know that it is set in the Bronx and people talk kind of different since it's not the best part of town. I lived in New York for most of my life so I do know, but it was still annoying at how hard it seemed to be ghettoish. The plot twist that so many people were shocked about didn't shock me in the least. I guessed it long before it happened. It just seemed to obvious.
I thought the main character was extremely young sounding. For all the things he had been through, he didn't seem to mature at all. Instead, he decided to run from his problems and forget that it ever happened. I just didn't agree with the idea that someone could decide that they were going to forget something that happened in their lives. It left a bad taste in my mouth. None of the characters wowed me. They were your average kids that grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and are a little messed up from it. Aaron's obsession with Thomas was a little weird. If the kid isn't gay, I don't know why you're trying to convince him that he just hasn't come out yet and you'll wait for him. You can't force your sexuality on someone else no matter how much you want that person. This was happening non-stop in the book: Gen with Aaron, Aaron with Thomas, and Aaron with Collin.
I'm the minority here with this book because it does have such amazing reviews and I'm sitting here wondering how on earth it got as many good reviews as it did. Maybe I'm picky and just looking for things not to like. Who knows. I wouldn't say it's a fantastic LGBTQ+ book. Don't listen to me though.
2/5 Stars
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Made You Up Review
*This novel deals with a main character that's schizophrenic. In case this triggers anyone, I just wanted to let you know.*
Made You Up is an explosive novel about an unreliable narrator with schizophrenia. In the novel, you as the reader have to determine what you think is real and what you think isn't. It's crazy and there is some major curveballs that will knock the breath out of you.
I truly enjoyed this novel and all that it offered. This book does not focus strictly on the idea that she has this problem. Instead, it focuses on how she deals with it and her adventure through high school as being a normal teenage girl. It does not paint schizophrenia in a wonderful light. It does not show all the "good" (there are no good things with this disease. Believe me. I know someone who has it) aspects of this illness. Instead, it shows how scary it can be and how much it can affect the person. I did hear there was a psychology textbook studied to get the information to write this book and whether or not this is true, it was still wonderfully written.
The characters are wonderful. Alex is an amazing narrator with such an interesting and witty sense of humor that I don't think everyone will like it, but I did. She didn't wallow is self-pity or hide away from the people who teased her and made fun of her. She rised above that and came out stronger in the end. Miles was a fantastic love interest. He riled her up, made fun of her for silly things, tested her, and pushed her. Their romance was not instalove. It was not love at first sight. It took time and effort, and they fought a lot before they finally realized they liked each other and even then their relationship wasn't easy. They had to work at it like any normal relationship.
This story will have you guessing and crying and laughing and falling in love with this beautiful story.
5/5 Stars
Made You Up is an explosive novel about an unreliable narrator with schizophrenia. In the novel, you as the reader have to determine what you think is real and what you think isn't. It's crazy and there is some major curveballs that will knock the breath out of you.
I truly enjoyed this novel and all that it offered. This book does not focus strictly on the idea that she has this problem. Instead, it focuses on how she deals with it and her adventure through high school as being a normal teenage girl. It does not paint schizophrenia in a wonderful light. It does not show all the "good" (there are no good things with this disease. Believe me. I know someone who has it) aspects of this illness. Instead, it shows how scary it can be and how much it can affect the person. I did hear there was a psychology textbook studied to get the information to write this book and whether or not this is true, it was still wonderfully written.
The characters are wonderful. Alex is an amazing narrator with such an interesting and witty sense of humor that I don't think everyone will like it, but I did. She didn't wallow is self-pity or hide away from the people who teased her and made fun of her. She rised above that and came out stronger in the end. Miles was a fantastic love interest. He riled her up, made fun of her for silly things, tested her, and pushed her. Their romance was not instalove. It was not love at first sight. It took time and effort, and they fought a lot before they finally realized they liked each other and even then their relationship wasn't easy. They had to work at it like any normal relationship.
This story will have you guessing and crying and laughing and falling in love with this beautiful story.
5/5 Stars
Monday, July 18, 2016
Harry Potter - Update
Hello everyone! Elle and I have decided to not post a review for the second book in the Harry Potter series because Elle was on vacation and we were both so busy while reading it that not posting a review would be the best thing to do. There will be a review up for book three very soon. I hope you all understand. Happy reading!
Sunday, July 17, 2016
This Savage Song Review
This Savage Song is the newest novel by Victoria Schwab. It follows a human, Kate, whose father controls the northern part of Verity, and a monster, August, whose father controls the southern section. Verity is over run with monsters that are created by crimes. August and Kate will end up trying to prevent a war while each dealing with betrayals.
The story was extremely confusing at first; I almost put the book down because I was so confused. It takes about 20% for it all to start coming together. The writing itself, though, was very haunting yet beautiful which fit perfect with the story. The concept was unique and very enjoyable.
There is no romance between the characters which is extremely rare in YA. It was refreshing to see a guy and girl just be friends. The characters were also just realistic and lovable. They had such realistic qualities and I loved them both so much.
I would recommend this to fans of Cassandra Clare since both stories are urban fantasy and have a lot of similar elements.
4/5 Stars.
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