Zodiac (Romina Russell)

Good morning readers! How is everyone enjoying the first days of August? I hope everything is well and that you are enjoying your summer - unless you are somewhere like Australia, then I hope you're keeping warm in your winter. The following review is for a book I discovered through Tumblr, having seen it a lot on my dashboard; however, I read about 2 months ago, but never got around to writing about. Therefore, I apologize for the short review as my memory of books upon starting another is actually quite terrible.

Zodiac is a science fiction book written by Romina Russell, that creates a physical world around the 12 astrological signs. Each of the signs are visualized into individual planets, all of which are governed by a single Guardian. The 12 planets lived in harmony and peace until a violent blast struck the moons of Cancer. This worldly disaster left Rhoma Grace (Rho for short), a 16 year old student, with a lot of responsible and an eye for astrology that the elder Guardians couldn't understand. Rho is left to convince these Guardians that the disaster is not some of natural cause, but of a a 13th figure. But does Rho really know what she is fully leading herself into?

Before starting this novel, I was very intrigued with the both the cover art and the actual concept of the story. Creating physical beings and planets from the astrological signs, is a unique plot that I had never read before; thus I had relatively high expectations. But regardless of my standard, the book left me disappointed, and at times confused. The beginning of the short became an overwhelming blurb of information and I found character introduction to be vague and confusing; too many characters in a short time frame, each with little guidance as to who they were. Once I had found my footing of the world and the people who existed in it, I noticed the story to be relatively captivating, but it was also slightly dry. It lacked the suspense or thrill that I hoped to find in the story - it was very standard heroine-villain relations.

Upon writing this review, I have discovered that a sequel is due to release in December, titled Wandering Star. I'm currently unsure if I will read the novel or not, but perhaps this will allow for clarification and a better sense of closure to what felt like a slightly disorganized book.

Overall I would rate this book a 3.8/5 because it was a rough start with a decent plot. I think if I had taken the time to read this story in one go, without being in school, I would have found it more enjoyable. This is definitely a need-to-binge type of plot line.

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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The Dream Thieves (Maggie Stiefvater)

Another month has gone and past, but I am back from the land of the student zombies! Exams are over and that means I am finally free to breathe and read. The first thing I did was finish reading the sequel to The Raven Boys and I have to say, I couldn't put it down once I truly started it!

The Dream Thieves continues to follow the lives of Blue and the Raven Boys, as they work to repair the ley line that they desperately searched for in the first book. The ley line, which seemed to hold so strong in the first book, now seems to be draining as if an external source is squeezing it dry of all its powers. What is this external source? That's what they are trying to figure out. They need the ley line to continue their initial quest, and without it there is no hope in succeeding. As the story progresses, it seems to that one of the Raven Boys themselves might actually unknowingly have a part in the draining of the energy; but is he the only one capable of such things?

The suspense holds throughout the entirety of the novel and I must say, I didn't think Maggie could write a story better than the first book; but she did and it's incredible! I'm still not sure what it is about Maggie's writing that leaves me feeling completely consumed by the world that she creates, but whatever it is, wow! The characters feel so real when you read about them and they grow and feel just like people do in the land of the reality. This book allows you to really understand the characters and also see them come to terms with various things. I absolutely love it!

Overall, I would rate The Dream Thieves 5/5 because it was perfect! With two out of three books in the series receiving a perfect rating from me so far, I can't wait to begin reading the final installment! Definitely check out this series!

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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The Raven Boys (Magge Stiefvater)

Hey there bookworms! I'm back and here with another review (finally)! I truly am sorry for the slow turnout of reviews on this blog, however I am quite busy with coursework at University - as I am typing this, we are at the one week mark until final exams; I am drowning in assignments and study notes. Despite the hectic environment right now, I have made the point of trying to read every night; only difference from normal is that by the time I get to bed, I just want to sleep - I only end up reading one chapter. But I'm here now and that's all that matters!

The Raven Boys is a supernatural, teen fiction novel by Maggie Stiefvater. She is the author of the Shiver-Linger-Forever-Sinner series that I absolutely raved about and therefore I was quite excited to start this series. And, as expected, Maggie did NOT disappoint! This book, the first of a new trilogy, was absolutely magnificent! The story follows the life of Blue, the daughter to a family of psychics, who doesn't have the ability to see like her family does; instead, she makes the "sight" stronger for those around her. In addition, the story follows a group of school boys who attend the pretentious school of Aglionby Academy; these boys have taken it upon themselves to solve the ancient task of waking a ley line. The two become entwined in the task when Blue experiences something new; something that only happens when those without "sight" are somehow directly tied to that individual.

The Book Cover

I don't want to give away anything to detailed as I enjoyed the suspense and growth that the novel provided to me as a reader. The build-up is really well written, the character development and character relationship growths are phenomenal, and the characters themselves are all very unique. I love when authors make a point of giving each and every character a personality, instead of just "cookie-cutter characters" as I like to call them.

I'm now currently reading the second novel in the series - The Dream Thieves - and am looking forward for the third and final novel - Blue Lily, Lily Blue - to be delivered to my library (it's on order currently).

Overall, I would rate The Raven Boys 5/5 because it was perfect! And I am definitely already feeling the same about the second novel so far!

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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The Eye Of Minds (James Dashner)

The Eye Of Minds is a story that I have been wanting to read for a while and have only just gotten around to grabbing a copy from my library. I heard about this novel from YouTuber Joey Graceffa in one of his videos - he often plugs Audible and the books he's reading - and I was immediately fascinated since I loved the author's Maze Runner series.

The Eye Of Minds follows the journey of three young and dedicated gamers: Michael, Sarah, and Bryson. All three of these gamers have dedicated their time (and money) to invest in the full experience of the VirtNet; they experience everything in the "Sleep" as if it were real, as if it were happening in the "Wake". However, the game changes the minute Michael is taken by the VNS and told his hacking skills (and his friends' hacking skills) are needed to stop a dangerous man: Kaine. With no way to refuse, the three gamers take on the very difficult mission of stopping someone, or something, from destroying the VirtNet.

The Book Cover

The focus of the novel is mainly on Michael, a character who I was instantly intrigued by due to his curiosity of the unknown and his grounded nature; they're two things that shouldn't work well together, but somehow work for him. Sarah gives the novel that excellent girl power punch, showing that girls can rock in the gaming world just as much as guys. Bryson gives the novel a sense of strength through is bold personality.

The Eye Of Minds is the beginning of a new series by James Dashner. The second novel The Rule Of Thoughts was published early in August this year. A third novel is set to be released Fall 2015. I look forward to continuing this series.

The Sequel

Overall, I would rate The Eye Of Minds 4.8/5 because it was essentially perfect. The only thing is there were a couple of moments where I found myself a bit confused; something's could use a bit more explaining.

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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Reached (Ally Condie)

Reached is the third and final novel in the Matched trilogy that follows the lives of those who live in the Society and those who escaped that world. Just like the first two novels, this story is a futuristic, corrupted world that must bounce back from self-destruction. However, unlike the first two, this book is split into five parts and follows three first-person perspectives. It follows the minds of Cassia, Ky, and Xander.

The Book Cover

The plot of this book lacks the action that the first two possessed; it seems to be more tame in that respect and is instead more about the finer details and smaller triumphs. You begin to learn more about the characters themselves as well as learn more of the people who left the Society. This plot follows the aftermath of Crossed - the second book - and is focused on one goal specifically: the cure. Other than that, not much happened throughout the story. The book does remain suspenseful, but I did find myself skimming a few parts of the plot that I found to be lacking. Reached was a longer book compared to the first two and I think in this case, that actually hurt the story.

The series as whole was brilliant though and reading Reached is important in allowing the story to come to a completion. I would definitely recommend reading this trilogy!

I would rate Reached 4.6/5 because it wasn't as good as the first two in the series, but it was still fairly captivating and intriguing.

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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Crossed (Ally Condie)

Crossed is the second book in the Matched trilogy and it is definitely as good as the first (perhaps even better if that's possible)! This book remains in the same genre as the first, that corrupted futuristic society that begins to fall apart; however, this one does differ from the first as it now follows the perspectives of both Cassia and Ky. When I discovered this, at first I was quite hesitant to see the change in writing, but as I continued on through the pages, I realized that having two perspectives is quite important to the dynamic of the story.

The Book Cover

The plot picks up roughly where the first book left off, and the action is there immediately. From the moment I started reading, all the way until the end, my heart was pounding from the suspense and unknown. Would Cassia survive or would her quick decisions have her caught in a bad situation? Would Ky find a way out or would he just become another statistic in the Society? I know I say this every time I review a series, but this time I truly can't say much without giving it all away.

What I will say is that I love the characters that join the "cast" in this book! Along the way you meet Indie, Vick, and Eli who are all brilliant additions to the already established characters from Matched. They add a new layer of what the Society has done and how their world was effected; it adds more dynamic to the story.

I would rate Crossed 5/5 because I couldn't put it down and it was definitely as good as the first! I was NOT disappointed for a second! I'm currently now reading the final book and I look forward to reviewing that one next week!

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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Matched (Ally Condie)

Matched is a book that I became aware of via Tumblr (no surprise there!). As I was scrolling through my dashboard, I saw a photo of someone's book haul and was immediately drawn to the cover of the book. I did a little bit of research about the book and discovered that it is the first book in a series of three. When you see all three of the books side-by-side, you are instantly draw in as the cover's themselves tell a story.

Matched is a futuristic story with a very restricted society and way of living. In a certain sense, it reminded me of Divergent: you have Officials who oversee the day-to-day activities and you have your Match Banquet which decides the rest of your life. Apart from that, Matched also stands apart from the other corrupted society novels that I've read. It does have a love story, but that's not the main point. The point of the plot is discovery and pushing the boundaries for knowledge.

The Book Cover

The story follows the life of Cassia, who recently turned seventeen, as she becomes of age for the beginning of her life in the society. In her world, everyone follows the rules and never dares to be different for fear of the consequences that are always certain to follow. However, Cassia - who is faced with a strange happening - begins to question how the society is run and dares to step out of the box. Her character is thrilling because she is in the dark as much as the reader so, as you read the story, you begin to fill her shoes and become engrossed in her world.

Matched - as mentioned at the start - is book one of three. The second novel is entitled Crossed and the third (and final) book is entitled Reached.

The Trilogy

I would rate Matched a perfect score of 5/5 because I honestly couldn't stop reading it! I read the full book in less than 48 hours and was never once disappointed. I can't wait to read the next one!

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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Please Don't Take My Baby (Cathy Glass)

If you've read last week's book review, then you will know that I recently went on vacation to England to visit family. When I flew over, I had brought along the book Bitterblue - which is around 500 pages - and thought that it would be enough for the 2 week trip. However, as said in that review, I finished the book rather quickly and was left twiddling my thumbs in anticipation of another story once home. But thanks to my grandmother, I did end up reading another novel whilst staying at her house; so that brings me to this review!

Please Don't Take My Baby is a non-fictional story with the feel of a fictional novel. The author is someone who writes her personal experiences down under the pen name Cathy Glass. "Cathy" writes novels based on her own encounters from when she used to foster care young children; of course, all the names in her work have been changed to protect the families and children involved.

The Book Cover

This specific story follows the life of a seventeen year old girl name Jade who checks herself into the foster care system after being thrown out of her own home upon admitting that she is pregnant. The novel describes Cathy's struggle to help the teenager grow up enough to keep care of her unborn baby, as well as after the baby is born.

I don't normally read stories such as this - I find them a bit "fluffy" and non-captivating -  however, this specific story of Jade left me intrigued with how things would turn out. The writing itself is very simple and therefore only took me two days to read, but the story was actually fascinating.

A Selection of Cathy Glass' Novels

I would rate Please Don't Take My Baby 2.9/5 because it was a very easy read and a little predictable. In addition, there were times in the writing where the author would reference another of her stories, which often left me confused and a little taken aback because I would be drawn out of the moment and story. Overall though, it was a decent story.

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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Bitterblue (Kristin Cashore)

I'd like to start of firstly by apologizing for the few weeks where I did not post any reviews! I just got back from a vacation where I traveled to England for two and a half weeks. But I'm back and ready to go, so without further ado, let's get reviewing!

As I just mentioned, I recently went to England and of course (for me) a book is a necessary item to bring along for the ride (or flight in this case). A seven to eight hour flight is a very long time, especially if you can't sleep during it. For this journey I brought along the book Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, which is the sequel to Graceling that I last reviewed.

The Book Cover

Bitterblue closely follows the style of writing that Graceling possessed and very much so remains a fantasy novel. The plot follows the growth of Bitterblue as she learns how to run her kingdom after the distress of the previous novel. The book itself is split into five parts either due to an amount of time passing or because of a new revelation in the plot. I can't mention too much as I liked the component of the unexpected when I read it, and therefore want the same for you!

Alternative Cover

I read this book far too quickly and was left without something to read for the second half of my vacation; I think that proves just how good it was!

I would rate Bitterblue 5/5 because I ABSOLUTELY loved it! Definitely take the time to read this and it's prequel. Also, if you get the chance, try reading Fire (the companion novel) and tell me how it is!

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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Graceling (Kristin Cashore)

Graceling is a fantasy novel with a side romance story. It's quite a long story - reaching over 400 pages at relatively small font - and one that I did struggle to get into at first. I managed to persevere through my initial struggle, and aren't I glad I did! The plot grew and became increasingly captivating; by the end of the book I truly found myself itching to finish it and eventually read the last 50 pages in one sitting!

The Book Cover

Graceling follows the story of a lady named Katsa and her mission to discover herself, as well as to solve a mystery sweeping over her world. The world in which the story takes place is split into seven kingdoms, each led by a King or Queen. The title of the novel comes from those of the world who are "Graced"; this means that they posses a magical power and a pair of distinctly unique eyes. For Katsa, she is one of those Graced and therefore quite unique in her fighting abilities. The story develops as a young prince named Po enters her kingdom in search of help; he too is one of the Graced people among the world. As the two travel in search of answers, they grow close and begin to learn a lot from and about each other.

Hopefully my plot summary isn't too detailed in such a way that gives the plot away to you as a reader; I think it's a decent amount of description... I hope!

I'm not sure how far in it was that I truly began to feel myself becoming engrossed in the story, but it was the development of Katsa - and her journey with Po - that drew me in. Whenever a story shows a character's personal growth, I'm instantly in love with the story. I find it difficult to read books where all the characters remain in the cookie cutter shape that they were originally depicted as.

Katsa (From Alternative Book Cover)

There is a sequel to this book, entitled Bitterblue, that takes place eight years after this novel. Those who read Graceling will understand the title and I'm sure will be just as excited as I to read it. In addition to this sequel, there is a side story entitled Fire which takes place in the same world and kingdoms, but follows the story of a new character; my library does not stock this novel and therefore unfortunately will not be reading it, but please do and tell me your thoughts!

The Set of Three

I would rate Graceling 3.8/5 because I did struggle in the beginning to want to keep reading it, but it did become extremely good in the end!

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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Forever (Maggie Stiefvater)

Forever is the third and final book in the Shiver series, and it is definitely by far my favourite of the three! This one is again a supernatural/fantasy romance novel, however it puts less emphasis on the romance between Sam and Grace and more on the wolves' survival; this is probably why it's my favourite.

The Book Cover

Just as the second book does, Forever alternates between the first-person perspectives of Sam, Grace, Isabel, and Cole; there is an addition of Shelby's perspective during the prologue, but that's the only time you get that. I didn't enjoy the four perspectives in the second book, however I didn't mind it too much in this one. It could be that I got used to it or maybe perhaps I was too quick to judge it badly when I first experienced it. All that aside, I definitely enjoyed having the full round of perspectives in this plot.

As I said in the second book's review, I can't talk too much about the plot - or the characters - without giving it away. So I'm not going to talk about plot!

What I will mention instead is my overall feel for this series and what I got out of it. Upon completing the full series, I feel uplifted in a sense. It could be the experiences that the characters face and how they grew from it, or it could be something entirely different, but I just feel grateful...? I'm not even quite sure if that's the word I want to use, but for me personally (having dealt with a lot of barriers to overcome) this book showed me that they can be overcome if you stick with it. I guess the moral of the story was to never give up on hope or the idea of a better future, because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

I would rate Forever 5/5 because it was by far my favourite of the three in this trilogy and I was never left bored or wanting more. I was fully satisfied with the story and how it ended!

Definitely take the time to read the full trilogy: Shiver, Linger, and Forever!

The Shiver Trilogy

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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Linger (Maggie Stiefvater)

Linger is the second novel in the Shiver trilogy and it was just as good as the first one! After 24 hours, I had already finished half of the book and really had to try to pace myself whilst reading the remainder of the story.

The Book Cover

Much like the first, it remains a supernatural/fantasy romance story. The plot itself picks up where the first left off, not losing any pace, and has the same "feel" to it. There is one big difference between the first and this one:

... there are FOUR first-person perspectives. The first two are the same as the first novel, that being Grace and Sam. The third is the perspective of Isabel and the fourth is that of Cole. 

I'm still not too sure how I feel about the four perspectives. In some cases it added to the depth of the story and the emotions, but in other cases I felt lost or confused as to who I was. That second case was even more true in certain chapters when the perspective changed three times in one chapter. This story really begins to show character development amongst all four of the characters.

I can't really talk too much about the plot or the characters without giving away the suspense that I felt. It's a story that you really need to experience for yourself!

I would rate Linger 4.5/5 because I felt that having four first-person perspectives to be a little too much to follow. Of course, as always, that is only my opinion and you might think differently.

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

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The Kill Order (James Dashner)

The Kill Order by James Dashner is the prequel novel to The Maze Runner trilogy. This novel is a science fiction, suspense novel that follows the lives of a small group of people who survived the Sun flares; the plot line does not follow their initial struggle as the Sun flares struck, but it does however flashback to that stage of their fight for survival. This story’s main focus is on the aftermath and The Flare.

The Book Cover

Although the story itself was good, I felt like it was written “just because.” Whilst reading the novel, and getting sucked into the story, I was awaiting a conclusion to the survival story of the small group of people that it follows; however I was disappointed. The epilogue itself has no mention of the people in which the story follows - more specifically Deedee - and that bothers me; what is the point of getting attached to characters if they simply vanish into thin air (no pun intended for those who have read the book). I now feel like James Dashner wrote this because he could since there is a decent amount of interest in the trilogy.

Of course, with every review, this is only my opinion! I read some other reviews upon finishing the novel to see what other people thought of the plot, and there was a handful of people who enjoyed the ending. Could I just be picky? Maybe. But that still doesn't change my rating.

I would rate The Kill Order 2.7/5 because of the reasoning stated above. The story itself was good, but the ending was a disappointment and really did not have a conclusion.

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :) 

The Death Cure (James Dashner)

The Death Cure is the third novel in The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner. Again, as did the second novel, the plot picks up right where the previous one left off. I’m glad Dashner did this as the ending of the second novel was indeed a cliffhanger of sorts.

The Book Cover

The plot follows the same main character Thomas as he continues to understand more about the surroundings around him and the project in which he is associated with. The “feel” of the novel, however, does change - at least I think it does. The story is no longer about the struggle to make it to the end of the task assigned by WICKED, but is now instead a fight to understand “which side they are on”? I’m not sure how to put this without revealing too much, but I just feel as though the plot became a different story.

Despite this change in the overall “feel” of the story, I did enjoy watching the characters grow and develop, as well as working towards a common cause. However, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first two books in the trilogy because I was left with the feeling that something was missing. In addition, I felt as though the last chapter and the epilogue were “the easy way out” in regards to concluding the series, especially based off of the title; Dashner's choice of title is definitely misleading to the reader!

I would rate The Death Cure 3.5/10 because I was actually quite disappointed with the conclusion of the book, especially when you take into account the title that Dashner chose for this novel.

Despite this low rating for the end of the series, I definitely would still recommend the trilogy :)

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

The Scorch Trials (James Dashner)

The Scorch Trials is the sequel to the popular book The Maze Runner by author James Dashner. The story begins where the first novel left off, not losing pace at all. The suspense you felt at the end of the first novel is definitely carried over into this second book of the trilogy. However, unlike the first novel, this plot is a little closer to the horror side than just thriller due to some of the more “graphic” descriptions (when you read the novel, you'll understand what I mean - all I'm going to say is "cranks").

The Book Cover

The plot is very intriguing in this book because your level of knowledge is essentially the same as the characters; as I said in my first review, it’s like you are experiencing the story as the characters. With every new chapter came another development in the plot, and often those developments were plot twists. As the plot unfolds, you learn more about the reasoning and purpose behind the maze in which these teenagers were placed, and you begin to see the affects of what happens without that said reasoning. I know that sentence is quite cryptic and may not fully make sense, however, I don't want to give too much away.

Through reading, I continued to feel drawn in by the characters and was engrossed in the way they grow and react in the world around them and the knowledge behind why they are there. Some of the character developments had me itching for more and more; I found it difficult to pace myself whilst reading this. I think with school, I finished reading this book in about a week or two.

The Scorch Trials has also been rumored to have been "greenlighted" by Fox for a movie! This will follow after the September 2014 release of The Maze Runner to theaters. Here's a supposed movie poster of this release!

Unofficial Movie Poster

I would rate The Scorch Trials 4.3/5, which is 0.3 higher than the first, because I felt as though this plot was a little more developed than the first. Also, the plot did possess more horror suspense which I really do love in a book, even though I can't sit through horror movies... :)

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworm :)

The Maze Runner (James Dashner)

This review is for the first novel in a series of 3 by James Dashner. The first book - The Maze Runner - is one I’ve been intrigued to read for a while now. Before beginning the book, I really had no idea of what the storyline was; but something about the title called me in and it was recommended by YouTuber Joey Graceffa. I also learned, from Strawburry17's website, that this novel is being made into a movie! I can't wait until later in this year to see this book unfold before my eyes.

An Unofficial Movie Poster

The Cast of The Maze Runner Movie

 The Maze Runner follows the main character Thomas as he enters a new sort of world. Upon entering this world he finds himself surrounded by four walls and a community that is unorthodox; it’s a community run by teenage boys. This world is even more obscure because outside of those four walls is a maze that tests your bravery, fitness, and mental stability. I can’t give more of a synopsis than that as I think it would give too much of the storyline away; experiencing the plot first hand is definitely as aspect of the book that needs to be felt to understand the full experience.

The Book Cover

Though the story did start of slower than I usually like, it didn’t really bother me this time. I think the atmosphere that the author paints was enough to hold me this time. There is an unwritten suspense to the beginning of the story; it almost feels as though you ARE Thomas. You are both experiencing this new world at the same time. Everything is new, strange, and you don't know where you've come from; the "before" of this world is unexplained to you as a reader much like the "before" has been wiped from Thomas's memory.

Movie Depiction of Thomas

However, the story does pick up very quickly. It’s almost like when you roll a ball down a hill: it starts off slowly but picks up speed continually until it can’t seem to stop - only does it stop when it hits something. This book after about a quarter of the way drastically picks up speed and doesn’t slow until the last chapter. I finished two thirds of the book in one day! I honestly couldn’t put the book down!

I would rate this novel 4/5 because of the way it pulled me in. Of course, because of the slow start, it has a slightly lower rating.

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

Champion (Marie Lu)

Champion: the final book in an amazing trilogy! It was everything I could have imagined and so much more than I initially imagined. This book was one that I really struggled to put down. Champion picked up directly where it left off and never lost it’s pace. Marie Lu is definitely an author who knows when it’s time to describe things in detail and when to let the pace of the novel take over from the details. Again, this book alternates between the view points of June and Day. As I have said before, typically I don’t enjoy this but it is definitely essential to this storyline and series.

The Book Cover

I don’t want to spoil any of the storyline as I think it’s important to get right into the novel yourself without trying to see where the story is going. The suspense is an important aspect of this book, and an aspect that Marie Lu uses to the maximum. As I approached the final 40 pages of the book, my heart was being pulled in many directions at once, and my emotions were really being worked on. Again, I was in tears for the majority of the closing of the novel. However, Marie Lu does throw a somewhat nicer plot twist at you towards the end.

As this trilogy entered this third book, I had really begun to feel for the characters and want them to succeed in everything they were accomplishing. Marie Lu definitely made me feel as though I was a part of these characters' lives and the world that they existed in. I admire her writing in this novel.

I would rate Champion 4.8/5 because the story became very well-developed and complex, something that I enjoy. I struggled to predict what the next page would throw at me, and I think that’s important in a book.

Definitely read the full trilogy!

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

Prodigy (Marie Lu)

Prodigy is the second book in the Legend trilogy, written by Marie Lu. Much like the first novel in this series, Prodigy has a fast paced plot line and many plot twists throughout. The storyline picks up directly where the previous left off and continues to follow the journey of both June and Day. Again, the author has chosen to alternate perspectives between these two main characters; this adds a great dynamic to the story, especially towards the second half.

The Book Cover

This science fiction novel is definitely one that I failed to pace my reading on and I ended up finishing it within a week. The end of the novel is definitely part of the reason that I finished it so quickly, as I desperately wanted to see a conclusion of the main plot. However, upon finishing Prodigy, I was left in tears. Again, as I always do in my reviews, I will not spoil the reason as to why I was left emotional, but I do warn you to prepare for the plot twist.
This sequel doesn't really show any character development in comparison to the first novel, but towards the end you can see a small shift in there mental state; however, their morals and main personalities remain constant.

I would rate this novel 4.5/5 because it was definitely more developed than the first novel, but there were still a few little moments that lacked something. However, if you enjoyed reading either Divergent or The Hunger Games, you’ll most likely enjoy reading this one as it shares similar aspects to both of those series.

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

Legend (Marie Lu)

Legend is a science fiction, action novel that also has hints of romance and survival. The story alternates between the view points of the two main characters, June and Day. Personally I’ve never been a fan of multiple perspectives however, in this book, it adds to the feel of the story and brings more to it as well. It adds to the plot because the two characters come from two very different lifestyles that co-exist in one city.

The Book Cover

The novel starts off a bit slow, introducing you to the world in which it takes place, but then it reaches a point and drastically picks up the pace to the point of not wanting to put it down. I really struggled to pace myself as I passed the halfway point of the story. Normally I would be disappointed by a slow-paced beginning of a book, but in this case there was something about it that kept me hanging on. Since the plot takes place in a corrupted society and the hierarchy of the citizens was determined in an unorthodox way, I found myself enjoying the prolonged descriptions.

The first main character, June, is brought up in the upper class society and never has to fight for her high quality of life. Despite that, she has grown to be a grounded and morally driven person; this adds a dynamic of contrast that you get to see develop. The second main character, Day, is brought up in the lower class society and is the criminal of the city. Despite that, he too is very grounded and never commits crimes without moral reason. He focuses on what he needs to do to survive and never just lays down and allows the upper class to rule him; this too adds a dynamic of contrast compared the to the lower class civilians.

Legend is the first novel in a trilogy followed by Prodigy and then Champion.

I would rate this novel 4.3/5 because it really held my attention for the majority of the novel.

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag (Alan Bradley)

The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag was the second book in the series of six involving the character Flavia de Luce. After reading the first book - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - and loving it, I was quite excited to start this one because I loved the character Flavia de Luce.

The Book Cover

Upon beginning the novel, I was faced with a little confusion. The story began in such a weird way that I struggled to grasp the plot that was evolving. Once getting on track with the storyline, I was faced with some disappointment. I knew before starting this novel that it was not a sequel but was, however, a continuation of the character and her town.

Despite knowing this concept before starting this novel, I was disappointed by the fact that it was basically the same plot outline, but with different people and a slightly different mystery. This put me off the book and eventually I gave up on the story; I never finished reading it.

I would rate this novel 1/5 because it failed to hold my attention and it was simply a disguised repeat of the previous novel.
*(Despite this low rating, I ask that if you liked the first novel to at least try this one. When reading this novel I was faced with moving to University and perhaps my focus was off therefore making my judgement clouded.)

Until next time,
Happy Reading Fellow Bookworms :)