Why: I like the process of how the two best friends make up. Instead of putting them through some guy trouble or something trivial like that, the author puts them in a life threatening situation where the two best friends are forced to work together to save everyone, and along the way they realize why they’re best friends with each other in the first place. I love how Ariel doesn't end up with anyone at the end of the novel because he dies along the way, which sounds very harsh once I write it down. But, it’s annoying how main characters in most novels now days just have to be in some kind of a romantic relationship by the end of the book. Even though being single is a pretty cool thing to be. I also love how the celebrity, Hudson Winters, isn’t a shallow person but a complex, three-dimensional human being. Because it shows you how celebrities are normal people as well, only with some fame behind them.
Why: Five reasons: 1) I love
reading historical fiction novels with dragons in them. 2) The main character, Seraphina, isn’t
completely human. 3) Rachel Hartman carves out the world
with each page, making you feel like you’re actually there. 4) The romance subplot starts out slowly.
So by the time the kiss comes, you’re not feeling so overwhelmed because it
came on too quickly and lustily. 5) Kajf ;adfljsalp
Why: Jane Austen
writes in such an eloquent way that you can’t help but sigh because it’s so
pretty. The romance that happens between Jane and Bing is adorable. I also like
how Darcy starts out as an unlikeable jerk but he learns how to overcome it and
become a gentleman in the end. I also like how Elizabeth Bennet is smart,
witty, caring, and prejudiced, which she slowly breaks down throughout the
story. And here’s a fun fact, Jane Austen was going to title the book
First Impressions, but decided against
it instead.
It's been
over a year since all the adults disappeared. Gone.
In the time since everyperson over the age of fourteen disappeared from the
town of Perdido Beach, California, countless battles have been fought: battles
against hunger and lies and plague, and epic battles of good against evil. And
now, the gaiaphage has been reborn as Diana's malicious mutant daughter, Gaia.
Gaia is endlessly hungry for destruction. She yearns to conquer her Nemesis,
Little Pete, and then bend the entire world to her warped will. As
long-standing enemies become allies, secrets are revealed and unexpected
sacrifices are made. Will their attempts to save themselves and one another
matter in the end, or will the kids of Perdido Beach perish in this final power
struggle?
Why: This is an
emotional book, because I kept on coming back to the fact that everyone who was
in the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone) are just
kids. And they survived one of the worst things imaginable. They
had to deal with wars, monsters, starvation, and many other horrors that should
never exist. And it’s not something to laugh
about either. So congrats to Michael Grant for accurately portraying them not as happy
kids who continue living a normal life once they got out of that hell, but as
kids who now has PTSD or just kids who aren’t really kids anymore because their
childhood has been forcibly removed from them.
Another reason
why I like this book is because Caine was able to redeem himself in the end. He
was able to prove to himself and to others that he can change. Unlike some
people who continued on being monsters till the very end. And I’m glad that
since it was Little Pete who started it all, he was the one to end it all as
well. However, it made me sad knowing that he’s not coming back because of his
decision.
The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as
a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the
bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though
if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out
there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave
danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street
fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is
loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her.
As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet
Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen
Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband,
her king, her prisoner.
Why: I love how
the characters are portrayed in this book. For example, I like how Emperor Kai
is doing what he thinks is right for his country even if he doesn't want to do
it. I also like how he still cares about Cinder, despite the fact that she
messed up along the way. I love how there’s a Little Red Riding Hood (which is
my favorite fairy tale by the way), who goes by the name Scarlet and who’s
pretty kickass, because she doesn’t
depend
on anyone. And she also loves her grandmother very much. And I love how the
wolf is an antihero in this story. I also love how Carswell Thorne’s
relationship with Cinder isn’t romantic, but it’s more like they’re friends.
Proving that heterosexual guys and girls can indeed be friends.
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra
Clare
A net of
shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to
destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he
needs Tessa Gray.
Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain
before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim
to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and
Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.
As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa
realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single
girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?
Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love
and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of
destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.
Why: I love how
Gabriel Lightwood changes throughout the story, becoming a better person. I
love how Will finally decides to visit his parents, after so many years.
However, I hate how Cassandra Clare made us think that Jem was dead but
in the end he turned into a Silent Brother and then eventually back to his
healthy self. Which created a lot of worry and heartbreak for many of us. I
also love Gideon's and Sophie's relationship, because it's like fuck the social
norms, I'm going to marry her even though I'm higher in rank because I love
her. I also like how the love triangle wasn't like the typical love triangle
you would find in most stories, because they all love each other equally. Plus,
Tessa does end up with both at one point or another in history, making it a
pretty unique love triangle.
Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini
Taylor
Once upon a time, an
angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed
and war.
This is not that world.
Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has
always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this
knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the
enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.
In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go
to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible
choices, Days of Blood &
Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war
stirs back to life.
While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and
starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.
But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?
Why: This is one
of the few second books in a series where it doesn’t make the story slump. It,
just like the first book stayed pretty well written till the very end. I love
how Karou and Akiva don’t end up staying together because Akiva betrayed her.
However, they still like each other despite all that. It made me sad to know
that, Karou’s father figure Brimstone died. And how he isn’t there to help
guide her through a new stage in her life. I like how in order to do magic you
need pain to do it. I also love learning about Karou’s past life, the life when
she was Madrigal. I love how smart Zuzana is, and how she’s willing to drag her
boyfriend to go find her best friend through an email that was never meant to
be interpreted. Because she cares,
plus she’s also pretty cool with the fact that her best friend isn’t entirely
human and that she doesn’t really deal with humanly stuff. I like how some
plans just doesn’t quite work out in a way, like killing your father. And I
love how Ziri is willing to pretend to be the giant dictator jackass, Thiago,
just to make things go Karou’s way. Even though it’s going to be quite hard for
Ziri to be a jerk because he’s such a nice and fun loving guy
Siege and Storm by Leigh
Bardugo
Darkness never dies.
Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina
must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new
is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t
outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a
dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With
the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned,
determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows,
Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther
away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power,
and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to
the oncoming storm.
Why: The number
one reason why I love the book is because of the world itself. It’s dark,
creepy, and scary. It’s unlike any other fictional or un-fictional universe
that I have ever been in. I also love the fact that Alina and Mal never make it
far on the other side of the Fold before getting caught because of their
recklessness on spending valuables that should only be used for emergencies.
Which isn’t a surprise because they’re cartographers/soldiers, not people who
know how to survive in a new place while trying to run away from the Darkling.
Another reason why I like this book is because of Alina’s struggle with her
powers and how she wants
more. Which
in turn affects her relationship with Mal (as well as with Sturmhond in a way).
And speaking of Sturmhond, I like how he’s smart, charming, handsome, and wise
enough to know when a bad decision is made (unlike his older brother). Plus, he’s
willing to do
more as a prince that
doesn’t just include lying around all day and frivolously spending money on useless
items. I also like how the Grisha are breaking down their social order, in order
to work together as a whole. I love how chilling the monsters were. And how the
Darkling is alive but weak because he's literally giving himself in a way to
make these monsters. Also, I love the unexpected plot twist in the end.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (I'm going to tweak this a little and include the other two books The Arctic Incident, and The Eternity Code.
Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and,
above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken
on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These
aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected
twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.
Why: I love how
the main character, Artemis Fowl, is a criminal mastermind. That isn’t something
that you see too often in any kind of book. I also like how he’s slowly
starting to care for other people that isn’t Butler. I also love how kickass
Holly is and how she's the only female Captain part of the LEPrecon unit.
Proving to you that girls are just as tough as guys. I love the fantasy element
in the books, and how everything goes wrong or takes an unexpected turn. I also
like how there isn’t a romance subplot in the books, but you can still see that
Holly cares for Artemis Fowl in a way.
The Dream Thieves by Maggie
Stiefvater
Now that the
ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue,
and Adam will be the same.
Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams
are intruding more and more into waking life.
Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of
the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...
Why: This is
another second book in a trilogy where it doesn’t lag. And just like the first
book, the romance subplot is there but it’s not heavily acted upon. I love how
Gansey’s relationship with Blue starts to evolve into something a little bit
more (much to my disappointment at first). And I love seeing a whole other side
of Gansey that doesn’t involve being all that overly enthusiastic about his
search for Glendower. I was also a bit
scared
of Adam, ever since he sacrificed himself in the first book. It also didn’t
help that he had sudden urges of anger that he was barely able to control. But
despite the fact that he was unbalanced, he was able to correct it and reawaken
the ley line again. I also like how this book focused more on Ronan turning into
a three dimensional character with actual reasons for what he did, instead of
assumptions made by the reader. I also like how he's gay and the book doesn't focus
on it at all, because his sexuality doesn't really apply to what's happening in
the plot. Like how your sexuality doesn’t apply all that much to what’s
happening in your own life, because all that matters are the memories you made
and the experiences you earned. I also love how dreams were involved in this
story, and how everything in Ronan’s life was or is a dream product created by
his dad.
Surprisingly,
I like the romantic relationship that plays out between Mr. Gray and Maura. And
how Mr. Gray, despite being a hit man, is human and knows what's right and
what's wrong and is willing to act upon it. And I love the magic that’s in the
book, only its magic that deals with ley lines and psychics, and dreams, and
not the kind that you would find on a stage filled with taking bunnies out of
hats and making change appear out of your ear.
~ Stacy N.
P.S. I may have
been fangirling one too many times while writing this post.
