My Favourite Books of 2015

This year has been one of my best reading years in a long, long time. I've made an effort to try new genres and have been greatly rewarded for that choice. Here are my top twelve books of the year, along with their descriptions and my reasons for having them on my list. They are listed chronologically as putting them in an order of favourites would just be too stressful.

Blue Lily, Lily Blue - There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up. 
Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs. 
The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost. 
Friends can betray. 
Mothers can disappear. 
Visions can mislead. 
Certainties can unravel.

This book has to be one of my favourites because I cannot get enough of it and the world its set in. Each book in the Raven Cycle series is more exciting than the last and with the final book coming out soon, it's really worth getting your hands on the first three beforehand.

Shadow and Bone - Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

.

This amazing series is full of action, romance and magic. With characters you can't help but hate to love and plot twists waiting round every corner, I would really recommend this book if you are a lover of fantasy.

Half Bad - Wanted by no one. Hunted by everyone.
Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world's most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan's only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it's too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?

I'm annoyed that it took so long for me to pick this book up off my shelf and read it. This novel is a sad, yet hopeful tale that deals with prejudice, trust and love. Also, it's set in England, which almost no YA novels are, so bonus points need to be awarded.

Cinder -Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the centre of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

This novel is a perfect mix of fantasy, sci-fi and dystopian YA fiction. Definitely do not be put off by the mention of the word 'cyborg' as I first was and go into this with an open mind (though be prepared to have it blown and your heart broken at certain points). As 'The Lunar Chronicles' are now complete, I truly recommend marathoning them all because this is a fantastic series that every lover of YA fiction should definitely experience.

Since You've been Gone - It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.
On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?
Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.
Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?
Kiss a stranger? Um... 
Go skinny-dipping? Wait...what?

When I first saw this book my mind was screaming at me so put it down and run away because it seemed just like another contemporary sloppy love story, but I am really glad I got it. This is anything but just another 'contemporary sloppy love story'. It's about friendship, family and doing what's best for you. Also, someone please make me a list...

I'll Give You The Sun - Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

If you only read one book from this list, make it this one. This story made me laugh and made me cry (and if you know me, you know how hard that is to do). 'I'll Give You The Sun' will turn you into an emotional wreck with a greater appreciation for life and following your dreams. It is the most stunning and beautiful book I have ever had the luck of reading.

A Swift Pure Cry - After Shell's mother dies, her obsessively religious father descends into alcoholic mourning and Shell is left to care for her younger brother and sister. Her only release from the harshness of everyday life comes from her budding spiritual friendship with a naive young priest, and most importantly, her developing relationship with childhood friend, Declan, charming, eloquent and persuasive. But when Declan suddenly leaves Ireland to seek his fortune in America, Shell finds herself pregnant and the centre of a scandal that rocks the small community in which she lives, with repercussions across the whole country. The lives of those immediately around her will never be the same again.

This is a heartbreaking tale of loss and love. Real life stories are often the most eye-opening and scarring and this was certainly that. It makes you truly feel for the plight of others and be thankful for the life you have.

The Winner's Curse - Winning what you want may cost you everything you love... 
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. 

Though this tale is one that is completely different to those I am used to, it is utterly brilliant. Drawing on ideas from Ancient Greece and Rome, it demonstrates that love can overcome prejudices and mistakes can cost you everything.

A Court of Thorns and Roses -When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

An epic high fantasy novel that leads the way for an amazing series. This book will draw you completely in Feyre's world and make you wish that, despite the constant threats and levels of danger, you could live in the majestic world of the fae. If you are looking for stunning fantasy writing, this is the book for you.

The Year of the Rat - To Pearl, there's nothing sweet about her premature half-sister, Rose. It was Rose that caused her mother's death and Rose that turned her world upside down.
To Pearl, Rose is The Rat.

This novel is another eye-opening tale. It has the power to make you feel pity and sadness, but also hope and joy. It is one of those books that I think everyone should have the chance to experience.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Mara Dyer believes life can't get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can. 
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. 
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. 
She's wrong.

An intoxicating start to a dark series filled with fear and romance. The 'Mara Dyer' trilogy has to be my favourite series of the year. You can fly through these books in one sitting and feel like you haven't been there for more than ten minutes. Noah Shaw is a definite perk as well.

Emma - Beautiful, clever, rich - and single - Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protégée Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected.

This book was not what I expected at all. I would never have believed you if you had said to me that I would laugh at a classic and use the word 'man-slut' when talking to my friends about a novel by Jane Austen. If you have yet to start reading classics, I would highly recommend this as you first pick.

Here's to a great year of reading! I wish you all the best in 2016.

-E

Review: The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I am continually amazed at how each book in this series is so different and individual, yet all are so captivating and flow so well. In this novel, everything we know gets flipped on its head and we get a glimpse into the dark side of those we thought were firmly in the light. It is harsh in the truths it brings, but all that makes for a fantastic conclusion. This novel is a fittingly amazing end to a brilliant trilogy.

(Goodreads parallel) 

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

This book sets a completely different tone to that of the first in the series. It's much darker and has the power to scare you if you let it. For Mara, this really is her evolution and the beginning of her end; it was both exciting and sad to read. Interspersed with flashbacks that never manage to tell you the whole truth, this novel, packed with fear, action and romance, is one of the best sequels out there because instead of losing the pace set in the first novel, as many sequels do, it raises it.

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Review: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

As I'm one of the few people who has never watched any of the many 'Frankenstein' movies, I went into this book not knowing what I would find and I'm so glad I did. This isn't a book about science or merely bringing someone back from the dead, as I expected, it is about mistakes, guilt and love. I ended up feeling sorry for Frankenstein and feeling a hatred toward the monster he created. In a way, I feel like this book could have been about a hundred pages longer if there was only more description and expansion; it's a shame there wasn't. Overall, though, I was happily surprised by this book.

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Review: The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory

This novel is a great introduction to Henry VIII, for someone like me who is about to begin to study him, as it gives an overview of most of his reign, detailing his trials and triumphs from an outside perspective. Gregory excels at making you love or hate characters and even though I already knew what was going to happen to certain characters by set historical events, I couldn't help but root for them. The only issues that I can find with this book are that because it covers such a large period of time and has to stick rigidly to events, sometimes it felt a little impersonal to Margaret and became more of a book that just recounted events. 

Overall, though, this was an amazing novel and I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction or has an interest in the Tudors.  

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Review: The Enemy by Charlie Higson

After hearing so many raving reviews from friends about this series, I had high expectations. Unfortunately, these were not met. The style of writing was something I would expect from a ten-year-old and whilst the premise of the book was good, I didn't care about the characters, so when they died, which was, again, poorly written, I wasn't fazed in the slightest. I will not be purchasing the second book in this series.

(Goodreads parallel)  

Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

I feel very lucky to have only started this incredible series at the start of the year because I don't think I could have waited much longer for 'Winter'. This book is action-packed, full of harsh reality and hardship, yet shows that there is always hope. I am continually amazed by how the fairytales are incorporated into the storyline and this book is no different. Princess Winter is a character whom I instinctively clicked with, just as I had with Cinder in the first novel, and made the plot all the more enjoyable.

After completing this series, I could not recommend it more highly as it satisfies completely what I look for in sci-fi and in fantasy.

(Goodreads parallel) 

A Compulsion To Finish

We all have books we don't particularly like; it's inevitable. Often people, when encountering these books, will put them down and never pick them up again, but I can't do that. Once I've started a book, I will finish it and I will try relentlessly to make myself enjoy it. Sometimes it will even work, the storyline will pick up and I'll find myself reading a decent book. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen a lot.

However, my compulsion extends even further than that. If the book is the first in a series, I may still buy the second in hope that it will get better.

This is what has happened with the Girl Online series. The first was bought as a gift for me last year and it ended up being a quick, unexciting read with a plot so unrealistic I felt like giving up on more than just the book. Still, I persisted and a couple of weeks ago I bought the sequel, though I still have yet to read it.

It seems like my compulsion is a curse that will just end up dragging my money, and maybe other good books, away, though hopefully one day I will find it to be a blessing. 

-E

Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

This book is a great second in what seems to be an amazing trilogy. There was a lot of action, we got to know more about the characters and the world it is set in became a lot more fleshed out. I won't lie, this book wasn't as good as I remember Legend to be and there were some parts of the romance that I really want to roll my eyes at, but overall it was a good continuation to the series and I'm excited to see what the final novel will have in store.

(Goodreads parallel) 

Review: The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

This book was an interesting twist on the tales that we have heard so many times without realising that we're hearing them over and over again. I quickly became emotionally invested in the characters and their lives, wanting them to be okay and able to find happiness wherever they could. However, at some points it felt like the story of the main characters wasn't going anywhere, a slow point that I'm not used to finding in Ness' work. Still, I think this is an important tale for people to read so that they can be reminded of reality for a while.

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Review: Emma by Jane Austen

In an attempt to read more classics, I borrowed this book from my mum, worried that I would encounter the same confusion I faced when reading Pride and Prejudice, but also excited at the prospect of becoming more widely read. I found myself invested in the story from the first few pages, getting annoyed at certain characters, whilst wanting the best for others. The twists and turns found written on the pages only made me love it more and I came away from this book feeling like I had truly enjoyed myself; something I really wasn't expecting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to start reading some classics or to anyone who loves a good bit of classical drama.

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Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

This book is an action-packed adventure full of tension, romance and fear. I found myself never wanting to close the pages and every moment that I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. The characters developed significantly and I started to care about them, worrying about what may happen to them. Though this book is enormous, it never dragged and everything was done with a purpose. After reading this book, I couldn't recommend it highly enough; it is a series every lover of fantasy should read.

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Review: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Another great book courtesy of Jandy Nelson. The topics it deals with are harsh and real and there are moments in the book when you consider putting it down and never picking it back up for fear of what will happen next, but there are also moments that leave you grinning for hours and they make it worth it. And that's what this book is; well worth it.

***

Lennie was a loveable character that, at moments, you hated completely. Her obsession with Wuthering Heights, her clarinet playing and her poetry made her individual and different. She tried to deal with her sister's death alone, which made her so much more vulnerable and I couldn't help but want to help her, guide her, to the right decisions and right choices.

On romance, of course I wanted her to be with Joe and of course I wanted to throw the book across the room every time something happened with Toby, but in a way I understand her actions. Grief is confusing and painful and sometimes we don't know how to ease the pain so we mess up.

Overall, this is a beautiful  novel on love and grief that I would highly recommend. 

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

This book felt real. If I had picked someone out at random and taken a look at their life story, this could be it. It didn't try and shy away from the harsher topics, it understood that no matter how perfect someone presents their life to be, it probably isn't that way and the unusual style related to Greg's personality. However, the story never truly went anywhere and at the end, I was left feeling like something more could have happened within it.

(Goodreads parallel) 

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

An intriguing story that deals with a subject matter most other YA novels don't dare to touch, whilst also having a sci-fi element that makes you question the meaning of balance within our world. With a tantalising romance and a mix of loveable and detestable characters, 'The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer' is undeniably amazing.

***

I first read this book a few years ago and, though I enjoyed it, I was not overwhelmed by it and didn't find it necessary to continue on with the series. Looking back after having read the book again, I cannot understand what led me to that conclusion. I was captivated throughout the entire story and over the space of only a few chapters, came to love the main characters for their differing traits. As well as that, I don't understand how I could have stopped myself from purchasing the second book after that cliff-hanger ending!

The powers that were introduced in this novel really interested me. The idea of controlling life and death is one that many have obsessed over and it was good to see Mara's hatred of her power; she was able to realise the truth about that sort of power. Just because something is coveted, doesn't mean it is good.

Overall, this is a great book that I would recommend to teenage girls who are starting to broaden their reading span from contemporary fiction to other genres. 

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Review: The Year of the Rat by Clare Furniss

This book is one of my favourite reads from this year, no doubt about it. With a heartbreaking story and characters you can't help but love, this book sets the standards high for YA fiction.

***

The concept of this book is one that I have never encountered before, but one that can be very relatable. When younger siblings are born, the attention gets diverted to them and that can be hard to deal with. Added to that, Pearl dealing with the death of her mother, she is naturally going to vent her anger to what she sees as the source of the problem; Rose.

Pearl is a character whom you want to be there for. You sympathise and empathise for her and just want to be what she needs, what she can't find in others. The way her relationship with Molly changed after the death of her mother felt very real and the other characters, Finn, Dulcie, her dad and grandmother, felt like they were people who actually existed as their lives didn't constantly revolve around Pearl.

This book made me think about things differently. At times it made me smile and at others, an odd tear or two may have slipped out. I would recommend this book to almost everyone; it's an experience everyone should have.

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

What I expected from this book and what I got were different, but in a good way. I expected the whole book to take place over one day, similar to 'Where She Went', but having only part of the story set over that day was far better for the plot because we got to see how the experience effected Allyson and got to know her.

As well as dealing with the romance, this book also dealt with college and how much people can change when they get there. It also gave Allyson an opportunity to grow and change. At the start of the novel, I liked her character, but as the novel progressed I liked her less, before I came to love her nearer the end. If this book had only been over the one day, I would have been stuck in the first category and it would have been as if her character were stagnated.

Overall, this is a good, quick read and I can't wait to read 'Just One Year'.

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: The Ana Switch by Angie Baron

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I realised how good the concepts in it were. The world that was created, though confusing at times, was really detailed and amazing. There were so many new creatures and back-stories to learn about, which made for a very interesting read.

However, for the size of the book, the story never really went anywhere. I wanted to see a bit more action instead of the characters just talking to each other and revealing stories that could have been revealed at a much more appropriate time, which would have made the plot work better as a whole.

Overall, the concept of this book was great, but the way it was executed let it down. I would be interested in reading the second book in this series, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to exist.

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: I Knew You Were Trouble by Paige Toon

Better than the first book, though not by a great deal. This book showed the pressures that come with fame and how difficult it can be when it is thrust upon you. I was able to sympathise with Jessie at certain points, though I still do not like her as a character.

The romance in this book was a bit more interesting. I found myself wanting her to be with Jack, but at times the 'love triangle' was a bit tedious. On the other hand, the introduction of the band did seem slightly pointless. It didn't seem that relevant to the story or how the book ended.

Overall, though this book was better than the first in the series, it still wasn't that good and I'm not really interested in getting the third one when it comes out.

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson by Paige Toon

I think this book would appeal to girls in their early teens with little reading experience. It seems as if the author has tried to aim it at a mid-teen audience, but the premise of the book, and how unrealistic it is, means it slips away from that age range.

Jessie is not a likeable character. Using her mother's death as an excuse, she acts up and purposely tries to hurt someone who is only trying to look out for her. She knows her behaviour is pathetic, but still continues with it.

This is an easy read, but not one that I would recommend. The plot never seems to go anywhere and is more suited to coming out of a twelve year olds imagination than actually being published.

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton

This book is an interesting approach to the crime and mystery genres. At points it is chilling, whilst at others it can make you feel overcome with sadness and sympathy for the fictional characters you feel like you've got to know so well. With twists and turns more fit to Welsh country roads, this book certainly has the ability to make your head spin. However, all that spinning is worth it when you eventually figure out the truth. 'Afterwards' is definitely worth reading as a group because of the intense discussions it can initiate and the emotions it can stir up.

***

Some points of discussion that the book stirred up in me, I feel I should voice. As a reader of fantasy and sci-fi, I could accept the fact that both Grace and Jenny seemed to be spiritual entities for much of the book, but I feel like their state was not described well enough. Grace left the hospital on multiple occasions, but how did she get in the various cars and how did she stay in them while they were travelling? In the hospital, did they walk through  doors or could they open them? If they were opened, surely someone would have noticed, and if not, then how were they able to walk around on the floors? Would they not have just slipped through them? I think that the rules of their existence needed to be made a little clearer.

Death is a major theme in this novel and with Grace and Jenny's condition, I knew from near the beginning that either one or both of them would die, but I feel like the topic was dealt with well. It didn't try and hide the grief  that the characters were feeling as this made them seem more human. Thought there was a sci-fi element to this novel, the individual characters made it feel very real.

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

The blurb of this book tells me that it is the 'first in an epic new fantasy trilogy' and I have to say that I couldn't agree more. This book introduces us to an unexplainably complex fantasy with description so intense that I felt like I could have lived there my entire life. Despite how horrible some of the characters could be and the evil that I knew to be present there, I couldn't help but fall in love with this world and all it had to offer. The plot was very cleverly and carefully revealed, leaving me always wanting more at the end of each chapter. Character development happened gradually and realistically, assisted greatly by Maas' incredible writing. This book sets a high standard amongst fantasy novels and I can't wait for the next instalment in this series, though I will comment that after the ending of this book, I hope a storyline that is just as good or better than the one in this book will be found as I do not just want the second and third books to focus on romance; I would prefer for there to be something for the characters to face off against.

(Goodreads parallel)

Life Changing

Change is inevitable, whether it is for better or for worse. Sometimes we make the choice to change, whilst at other times it is thrust upon us. Whatever the case, change happens and can alter us, and our viewpoints, completely, if we let it.

Books can change your life. By getting into reading, no matter what genre or how often you pick a book up, you are opening yourself up to an entire new universe of experiences. Those different experiences can change you, make you re-evaluate your past decisions, make you want to be a better person or just make you think.

Certain stories stay with you for a long time after you have read the last page and it is those stories that have the power to change us the most; it is those stories that can literally be life-changing.

Post inspired by The Year of the Rat by Clare Furniss.

Personal Preference

There are some things that I like to come up in books and some things that I don't. In particular, I feel like sex can sometimes ruin a book.

Now, I'm not talking about after a huge build up two characters having sex for the first time because they love each other; I'm all for that. The problem, however, comes after that moment. Just because they can, the characters have sex again and again and again. It makes me want to scratch my eyeballs out.

Of course the characters are entitled to have sex if they want to, but when it starts to detract from the plot it makes me so so angry. I want to hear about you defeating the evil person or saving your best friend, not about how great it made you feel when his hands caressed your inner thigh.

Too much sex can put me right off a book and it's a shame because often the books can be really great.

The message I would give out to authors is just because a book is aimed at a late teen/adult audience doesn't mean it should become filled with sex just because it can be. Focus on the story instead and if it is right for the characters at the time then sex is fine, but just not for five or six chapters in a row. 

Review: Fairest by Marissa Meyer

This book is a great accompaniment to the main 'Lunar Chronicles' series. It is definitely a book that needs to be read after reading 'Cress', the third book in the series, and before reading 'Winter', the forth book in the series, because that way you understand more about the characters and the story, plus it ends so you can start 'Winter' straight after reading it with a smooth transition. In places it is quite a sad tale and at other moments it makes you want to tear out your hair in annoyance, though that is a good thing. It is really interesting to get a look into the court on Luna and this book manages to build hype and excitement amazingly well for 'Winter'. Though this book isn't as good as the main 'Lunar Chronicles' books, it still manages to stir up emotions within me and even made me want to root for someone I know to be the "bad guy".

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

This book appeals to the side of me that likes the sort of happy ending tales that can be found in a lot of YA contemporary fiction. Though this book did deal with issues that are quite heavy in real life, it did it in such a way that gave out the message of 'when you find the right person for you, everything bad that's happened to you no longer matters', which I feel in an incorrect message to be giving out. 'Boy Meets Boy' was also very idealistic in the way it presented Paul's town, so I think this novel is best for someone looking for a light read and those just starting to find out more about the LGBTQ+ community.

***

The blurb of this book describes it as 'slightly surreal' and I have to agree; it doesn't feel like this novel could be real. That, for me, is off-putting with contemporary reads because they're supposed to be realistic books. The reason I feel this way is because of how Paul's town and high school is portrayed; in the life that I'm used to, people aren't so open about their and other's sexuality and/or gender dysphoria. Obviously, I want people to be, but that is unfortunately not the world I know, so that aspect made the novel feel like it was just trying to show idealisms rather than real life.

In addition to that, the author tried to make every main character seem as likeable as possible, which added to the feeling I had that this novel is and never could be real or a representation of real life.

When first introduced, the romance between Paul and Noah seemed promising. However, as it developed and Paul made lots of mistakes, I began to dislike him as a character and by extension their relationship. That is certainly something that starts to ease me off liking the novel and it can actually feel slightly upsetting when you don't like the main character in a book. After that I started to lose interest in the novel because the mistakes that Paul made were rude, idiotic and could have been easily avoided.

Overall, this book was okay. I'm not sure that it sparked my interest enough for me to want to read any more of Levithan's books.

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

I have mixed emotions regarding this book. I can definitely understand why so many people's hearts have been won over by this book, yet I can also question certain things within it. It lays out before us an amazingly horrible sounding dystopian world, but then we don't really get to explore it. We are introduced to a main character who we sometimes feel we can relate to, but at other times confuses us completely. We get to experience a sizzling romance, yet when we take a step back we notice superficialities. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a great book, but in some aspects it just failed to convince me to keep reading. Also, I was metaphorically drowning in metaphors and when a writing style becomes overwhelming, it then starts to be off-putting.

***

Juliette's world at the start of the novel intrigued me. I quickly became interested in her back-story and how she ended up in such a terrible place. I found myself rooting for her from early on because of her continued belief in good in the world and wanting to be good. I admired her perseverance and liked her as a character. As the book progressed I did start to question, as Warner did, her continual goodness and would have enjoyed it if she let herself be bad, just once, because I feel it would have made her more realistic; we all have those moments.

At first I imagined Juliette would use her time with The Reestablishment to try and figure out a way to bring them down, as she seemed to want rid of them so much, but instead everything became about her romance with Adam and how they were so lucky to have found each other. When it started to draw away from the storyline, I did get mildly annoyed as I feel the book would have been better without constantly being reminded of their yearning for each other.

Their escape from The Reestablishment led to some very high drama and action moments. It was great to see Juliette come and save the day rather than seeing the male lead save the female lead as it is in so many other novels. I hope we see more of that side of Juliette in future.

The power that Juliette has is perhaps the most intriguing thing about this novel. It is certainly different from any powers that I have read about before and the science-loving side of me can't help but wonder how such powers came about (I assume genetic mutation due to radiation - contamination). I can see why people covet it, why Juliette hates it and why Warner is so interested in it. I really hope that it is explored further in the coming novels.

Overall, I'm quite impressed with 'Shatter Me' and am excited to get my hands on the next book in the series.

(Goodreads parallel)

The Annoying Thing About Series

As you scan the shelves of your local library, a book catches your eye. You recognise the author vaguely, but not the title. Your interest is peaked. You pull the book from the shelf and after a quick glance at the cover, you rotate it in your hands so you can read the blurb. This book is just what you've been looking for and you start to get excited at the prospect of reading it. You open it up to scan the first page and as you begin to read, you notice that something feels wrong. Flipping back a few pages you find out that this is actually the second book in the series. With a dejected sigh you put the book back in its place and after realising that the first book is nowhere to be found, you set yourself back on the task of looking, again.

This situation is one that I always find to be annoying. I can really want to read a book, but, as someone who never starts a series with a book other than the first, then have to wait months to read it or, in the worst cases, never get to read it at all.

It is made worse when I do not realise it isn't the first book in the series while looking through the collection of books there. Firstly, I feel like a bit of an idiot for not realising and secondly, when I realise at home it feels more deflating as I have prepared myself to read the book, only to find out after it has been waiting on me for days to start it, that I can't.

All of this makes me a big fan of series that have the number of each book on their spine. Some may call it ugly, but I think of it a useful. That way there can be no doubt about whether I'm picking up the first book in the series or not and then this whole situation can be avoided.

-E

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Note: The copy of 'Legend' I read is an uncorrected book proof.

An amazing start to a promising trilogy. I was quickly intrigued by the dystopian world this book was set in and soon came to love the main characters, Day and June, by their narration and actions. With an intense plot and danger always round the corner, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for action, adventure and a splash of romance; basically, if you've read the Divergent series and the Hunger Games and are now ready for something even better.

***

The world that this book puts you in completely sucks you out of reality. It makes you realise how much influence governments can have and to what ends people will go to for power and control. From Day's perspective we also learn that they don't know as much as they would like to and that they would have us believe. The segregation within the Republic between the rich and the poor really brings to the forefront of your mind the issues that living in that type of society brings and gives you all the more reason to support Day's and the Patriot's cause.

The romance between Day and June, though expected, was a good match and the story unfolded in such a way that you could understand them wanting to be together. Also, as the plot unfurled and you found out that they had many similarities, it seemed right for them to be together. I look forward to seeing their relationship progressing.

Overall, this was a gripping tale and I can't wait to get hold of the second book so I can see which characters come into play and how the plot will progress. I'm especially excited to potentially learn more about the plague. 

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: It's Not Summer Without You and We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

The second book in the 'Summer I Turned Pretty' trilogy is a good continuation from the first novel in the series. Though a long time has passed in between the novels, they flow together as if in continuation. This means that many events are told in the form of flashbacks, but this helps the novel by adding a layer of drama that the reader cannot fully understand until everything has been revealed later on. This book takes us back to the sweet and carefree summer house that we knew in the first book, but everything has changed around the characters and it was interesting to read about how they tried to overcome their struggles which seemed a million miles away from what we would've thought they would have had to deal with in the first instalment of this series. In this book we start to see more depth to the characters we were introduced to in the first book and the development of each individual can clearly be seen throughout. Overall, this is a fairly light summer read that I believe many young teens would enjoy. However, it seemed at certain points that the love triangle was far too forced and predictable.

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~

A poor end to a series that had the potential to be a lot better than it was. For the main part of the novel, the plot ran dry with the characters continuing with the same mediocre activities in a failed attempt to keep the reader interested. At the beginning of the book, Belly's life seemed to be far too perfect and the only way to fix that in the writer's mind was ruining the trust in her romantic relationship. I started to lose interest in what the eventual outcome would be, but thankfully this book had two saviours which enabled me to give it a not too bad three star rating. The first was the comedy provided by Taylor; I actually laughed out loud at some points because of her. The second was the ending of the book. It seemed to be much more apt and less ridiculous than the main storyline in the book and I actually would have been happier as a reader if the last few pages of the book were made into the whole book. Overall, I'm disappointed. This book could have been so much better.

(Goodreads parallel)

Review: All Fall Down by Ally Carter

This book is the first in a, so far, promising series. It is intriguing and has really made me think about so many different aspects of life, from friendship to family to safety. As with other books by Ally Carter, 'All Fall Down' focuses on a strong female character who has to overcome difficulties with the help of those around her. The storyline was action-packed and intense; I found myself being drawn in so deep that it was physically hard to stop reading. With lots of twists and turns along the way, this book paves the way to an amazing series.

***

Truthfully this book is more of a 4.5 star book than a 5 star one, the only reason for that being the continued confusion within the book. Of course, as this reflected Grace's own confusion, it was an important part of the novel, but at certain points the levels of confusion were so high that it clouded the story, making the book harder for me to enjoy as a reader. At the end, when it was revealed that it was Grace who killed her mother, the confusion began to make sense, yet in the main part of the novel, it was slightly overwhelming. However, I am not saying that Grace's panic attacks from her memories of her mother detracted from the storyline, as they were vital to the story, just the confusion about what was going on.

The first few sentences of this novel illustrate well how spectacular Carter is as an author. She manages to draw the reader in and makes them want to read the whole book with only a few words. Obviously, the location in which this book is set helps in that aspect as well and again, I must commend Carter on making me, as the reader, feel like I was on Embassy Row alongside Grace. It was wonderful to see such a rarely talked about aspect of life, embassies and inter-country relations, come alive within this book. Politics is also seldom discussed among teenagers and this is a great opening to that world.

The characters within this book were definitely all individuals and there was enough exploration into their lives within this novel for me to think that I knew enough about them to read about their lives. I liked the diversity of Grace's friendship group and how she was determined to stay talking to Alexei, despite the hostile situation between America and Russia there. This book is important as it shows such good relationships between characters and the overcoming of difficulties that being from very different nations may bring.

While Grace was tracking down the Scarred Man, I was completely on the edge of my seat. As this book as only from Grace's perspective, I had no opinion but hers to trust, meaning that her judgments on people were very much my judgments on people. So, learning that the Scarred Man was on her side was a complete surprise to me, and a very well written surprise as well. When the story came together at the end of the book, it made me learn that sometimes the narrator can't trust themselves, yet alone other people, and the discoveries about how Grace's mother died were very powerful and moving.

Overall, this was a great, intense read and I would recommend this book to people who have read Ally Carter's work in the past as well as people who have yet to discover her work. I will certainly be buying the next book in the series when it comes out.

(Goodreads parallel)

Bookish Comments

Instead of doing a full review for these books, I have decided instead to write a small comment about each as I feel I can't do a review justice. These books are all ones that I read while on holiday in Lanzarote; you can read a lot on holiday it seems!

The Winners Curse by Marie Rutkoski - 4 stars

A really interesting and different concept. Slow in parts, but really heats up towards the end with amazing characters, especially Kestrel for her refusal to comply to the normal.

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski - 5 stars

A great sequel with so many moments that made me want to scream in frustration at the characters, but an amazing development to the plot. It left me really needing the final book, but I have to wait another year. This book is where the series shows itself as an amazing one.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson -4.5 stars

At first I thought that this would be a light summer read, but it actually had a much darker storyline entwined with some fluffy moments. This book did make me cry a little at the end and the themes of friendship and family truly made this book great.

The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George - 3 stars

This book had the potential to be great with the ideas of supernatural powers that it contained, but they were just not carried out at high standards. Also, there seemed to be this obsession over makeup and glasses making people ugly and it is not a good image to be giving young girls who would be reading this book. It's a series I will not be continuing.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers - 5 stars

A wonderful mix of fantasy and historical fiction with a lovely bit of romance thrown in. I was completely drawn into this story and loved the assassin element to it. I can't wait to continue with this series. 

Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

This book would be a great beach read, though I read it the day before I went on holiday and now it has got me in the mood for summer. There are a few darker aspects to this novel in theme, but mainly it is a fluffy read about first love and cringey moments that can happen when you are falling in love with someone. The interweaving of flashbacks with the main storyline help to explain the relationships between the characters better and gives a greater understanding of why Belly's summers are so important to her. There are a lot of potential male love interests, each of them likeable in their own way, but sometimes it can feel a bit unrealistic because of the amount of them. I would recommend this as a holiday/beach read as it can be read quickly and is what I would class as a 'summer' novel, especially to anyone in their early teens as I feel it would appeal to that age range the most.

***

I think the title of this book lets it down in a way. It makes it seem very superficial and although parts are, the book does go deeper than that. It touches upon divorce, drinking and terminal illness, all of which are serious issues. When I picked up this book I expected it to be very superficial because of the title. Whereas I thought I would be getting groups of girls in bikinis trying to get with as many guys as possible over the summer, I actually got someone who was struggling to fit in and was dealing with the changes that being a teenager brings. I got a character who I could like, which was the opposite of what the title led me to expect.

The flashbacks in this novel were often to quite cringe-worthy scenes, but they led me to be able to understand each individual character better and gave me an insight as to why they acted the way that they did in the present day. It was interesting for me to see how things had changed between Conrad, Jeremiah, Belly and Steven over the course of the summers and how easily they went from being a group to trying to go their own separate ways. They changed as they aged and it is good to be able to see that as a reader because it means that we can feel like we know more about them and connect to them more.

Out of the three love interests for Belly introduced in this novel, I have to say that Cam appealed to me the most, though that is my own personal preference. He was smart and kind to Belly throughout the novel, even when he started to realise that she had feelings for Conrad. I think that we could all do with a guy like Cam and as it seems that Belly has given up on him, I would happily fill that spot in his life.

I can understand why Conrad would draw the attention of Belly and many other girls. Being honest, most cannot resist the pull of someone on the edge, someone who you're never fully sure about and that is what Conrad represents in this book. Personally, I found him to be more than a bit rude in places. Still, throughout the novel it was hinted at that he had feelings for Belly and I could see her making him a better person.

Jeremiah is someone who I felt slightly sorry for in this novel. He was being kind and nice and supportive, but that seemed to get him nowhere with Belly. However, I feel that a friendship between those two characters could benefit them both and would be best for the continuing storyline, though I guess it won't be done, as a friendship can be just as or even more important than a romantic relationship. That is something that is so often undervalued in YA fiction. I just hope that by the end of the series they are still friends.

Belly's courage is something that I definitely admire about her. She eventually told Conrad what she was feeling with no frills or beating around the bush and that is a very hard and brave thing to do. Admitting that you like someone is never easy, and that was only made harder by the fact that she knew she was putting their friendship on the line. Also, she dealt with the news that Susannah's cancer had returned as well as she could have been expected to, but in really quite a mature way. She didn't give up on her as other people might have, instead planning on sticking it out with her. That is something that not a lot of people who have the choice to leave can manage, as demonstrated by Susannah's own husband.

Overall, this was an interesting and entertaining read that is great for summer. There were too many love interests for my liking, but the storyline was good and I will be reading the next book when I can get it.

(Goodreads parallel)