Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars Etta's violin is pretty much her entire life. She dedicates all her free time to practicing, performing, and preparing for her upcoming debut. Etta has sacrificed everything for her music, including the possibility of attending a normal public high school and even her relationship with her boyfriend (now ex-boyfriend); nothing is going to stop her from making her debut as an expert violinist and earning the approval of her tutor Alice and her mother. However, all of Etta's hard work may be ruined when she gets caught up in the drama of the powerful time-traveling Ironwood family. With hopes of righting past wrongs and getting back home, Etta and her intriguing companion Nicholas, a freed-slave-turned-"legal-pirate" from the 1700s, embark on a dangerous and (I wish) thrilling adventure. Passenger was described to me as a treasure hunt through time across various locations. Needless to say, the concept combined with Alexandra Bracken's success in the world of YA lit (particularly with her popular trilogy The Darkest Minds) made me incredibly excited to read Passenger. Unfortunately, the novel falls flat in several areas, including characterization, pacing, world-building, and romance. Passenger, despite its exciting premise, is disappointingly boring, unoriginal, and frustrating. Though Passenger feels amateurish in several respects, Alexandra Bracken has a golden concept with this series, and if she can tap into the emotional and situational drama from the last chapters of this novel throughout the sequel, Wayfarer, there may still be hope. And I will say that the covers of this series are absolutely gorgeous.
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Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars Everybody knows the classic story of Cinderella, but what about a futuristic Cinderella with robots, remarkable technology, and even aliens? Linh Cinder, the titular character of the first book in Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles series, is a poor mechanic living with her stepmother and stepsisters in the city of New Beijing in the Eastern Commonwealth. Centuries have passed, world wars have been fought, and scientific advancements have led to new and improved prosthetic limbs, though anyone with these robotic parts is looked down upon and discriminated against in society, including Cinder, who was heavily injured in an accident in her youth. But despite advancements in technology and medicine, modern science is nearly powerless to stop a deadly plague that is ravaging the citizens of Earth. The Annual Peace Festival is approaching and with it the prestigious ball held at the royal palace, where the young Prince Kai (New Beijing's most eligible bachelor) is sure to be in attendance. However, things are complicated when Cinder's youngest sister Peony falls ill, and a delegation of Lunars arrives from their colonies on the moon. With them they bring their detested queen Levana and some secrets that may have been better left hidden. You've never seen a fairy tale quite like this. Cinder is exciting, funny, and incredibly creative. Marissa Meyer perfectly blends futuristic science fiction with classic elements of the original story in this fairy tale retelling. I couldn't put Cinder down, and I'm so excited to read the rest of this promising series! Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars The Night Circus is an intriguing story that effortlessly injects fantasy into the real world. It's set around the centerpiece of two young magicians who are forced to test their skills when their mentors enlist them in an inescapable competition, but the situation becomes more complicated when they develop a strong bond and even a romance. Much of the novel also takes place in the titular Cirque des Rêves, which is a beautifully intricate and mysterious fixture that would be very interesting to actually visit. Erin Morgenstern creates a dream-like world where just about anything is possible. The characters feel unlike most traditional book characters and they're almost detached from the reader, but they are all gems in the story and each and every one of them is unique and compelling. The Night Circus is unlike most fantasy stories that I've read, and although it isn't the most fast-paced novel and the plot can sometimes be quite complex, it's definitely worth looking into for any readers that enjoy the fantasy genre. Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars Laia is only a poor Scholar, living with her older brother Darin and her Nan and Pop, hoping to avoid the brutal Maritals who serve the Empire. But when Laia's family becomes the target of a raid, her brother is arrested and her life is turned upside down. Laia, willing to do anything to save her brother, hopes to join the Scholar resistance rumored to be hiding in the catacombs beneath Serra. However, it will require her to live a life as a spy and a slave, and to find courage within herself that she isn't sure exists. Meanwhile, Elias is just days away from graduating at the top of his class of Skulls at Blackcliff Military Academy; all of his comrades are preparing for their lives as Masks, the ruthless and powerful top soldiers of the Empire, but Elias is disenfranchised with the Empire's constant violence. However, just when he's on the verge of deserting, an ancient prophecy comes into play, and Elias finds that he may have a greater role in the future of the Empire than he ever thought possible. An Ember in the Ashes was a thrill ride from beginning to end. Sabaa Tahir creates a dangerous world on the brink of war and revolution, and with prophecies, powers, and hints of the supernatural, anything is possible. An Ember in the Ashes is definitely a compelling, entertaining, and wonderfully-written fantasy story. It's dramatic and suspenseful, but also quite dark. I would recommend it for more mature readers, with content warnings for violence and discussion/threat of sexual assault. The story is wonderful and Sabaa Tahir writes in an effortlessly beautiful fashion. I thoroughly enjoyed An Ember in the Ashes, and I can't wait for the sequel: A Torch Against the Night. |
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Here are reviews of books I have recently read! I'll try to do a general overview of the book and then a more detailed section with my personal thoughts Archives
December 2017
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Turn The Next Page - a YA book blog | Book Reviews |