Raathi Chota's Blog
December 20, 2019
Book Review: Salvation Lost
I enjoyed this book more than the first one even though I had no idea what I was in for. Partially, I also don’t know how to feel about there being a third book…
The comparative utopia of twenty-third-century Earth is about to go dreadfully awry when a seemingly benign alien race is abruptly revealed to be one of the worst threats humanity has ever faced. Driven by an intense religious extremism, the Olyix are determined to bring everyone to their version of God as they see it. But they may have met their match in humanity, who are not about to go gently into that good night or spend the rest of their days cowering in hiding. As human ingenuity and determination rise to the challenge, collective humanity has only one goal—to wipe this apparently undefeatable enemy from the face of creation. Even if it means playing a ridiculously long game indeed. But in a chaotic universe, it is hard to plan for every eventuality, and it is always darkest before the dawn.Thank you once again to Pan MacMillan Australia who’ve provided me a copy of both books and the opportunity to review it here, right on my blog! You can read more about Hamilton, here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/... the second installment, I actually read faster and found myself more engaged with the story. Not only because it was finally moving compared to the first where we got the characters’ past and a bit of Juloss, but there were more characters that were different and multiple things happening all at once during the lockdown. Once again, Hamilton knows how to write scenes. I’ve never read such thoroughly put out and descriptive scenes where it feels like I’m actually there or I can too, sense the character’s emotions/reactions. He has a beautiful way of writing that I can only ever imagine of having. The only thing that bothered me were the explicit sex scenes…that is something I’ve never read so vividly before on.When I say, more characters, it weighs out on the characters not mentioned in the second book like they were in the first. These characters are another class. It gives the readers a perspective of the lower class and upper class during the lockdown. How they’re being treated through all this and the likelihood of their survival. Their way of living and sacrifices compared to the busy lives of our main characters, Yuri, Ainsling, Kandara, Jessika and Callum. We see from the outside how their decisions are impacting others. It’s quiet interesting too, enjoy watching a zombie apocalypse unfold and seeing how they all make it with what they have. We also have Dellian and Yirella, years from now, still hiding and plotting from the Olyix. How they’ve been builtto fill a destiny. Reading about how their lives all rotate around the Olyix and trying to stop them and avoid becoming another generation that are hiding. Yirellais smart, that’s for sure and her love for Dellian is interesting to read. We’ve read about them from when they were kids to grownups who have to figure a way to stop the Olyix. I can’t go into detail without throwing major spoilers but it’s a book worth reading when you have an abundance of free time. These are the books you really need to focus on and remember everything. I hope to review the final book and see if humans can save the universe!
The comparative utopia of twenty-third-century Earth is about to go dreadfully awry when a seemingly benign alien race is abruptly revealed to be one of the worst threats humanity has ever faced. Driven by an intense religious extremism, the Olyix are determined to bring everyone to their version of God as they see it. But they may have met their match in humanity, who are not about to go gently into that good night or spend the rest of their days cowering in hiding. As human ingenuity and determination rise to the challenge, collective humanity has only one goal—to wipe this apparently undefeatable enemy from the face of creation. Even if it means playing a ridiculously long game indeed. But in a chaotic universe, it is hard to plan for every eventuality, and it is always darkest before the dawn.Thank you once again to Pan MacMillan Australia who’ve provided me a copy of both books and the opportunity to review it here, right on my blog! You can read more about Hamilton, here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/... the second installment, I actually read faster and found myself more engaged with the story. Not only because it was finally moving compared to the first where we got the characters’ past and a bit of Juloss, but there were more characters that were different and multiple things happening all at once during the lockdown. Once again, Hamilton knows how to write scenes. I’ve never read such thoroughly put out and descriptive scenes where it feels like I’m actually there or I can too, sense the character’s emotions/reactions. He has a beautiful way of writing that I can only ever imagine of having. The only thing that bothered me were the explicit sex scenes…that is something I’ve never read so vividly before on.When I say, more characters, it weighs out on the characters not mentioned in the second book like they were in the first. These characters are another class. It gives the readers a perspective of the lower class and upper class during the lockdown. How they’re being treated through all this and the likelihood of their survival. Their way of living and sacrifices compared to the busy lives of our main characters, Yuri, Ainsling, Kandara, Jessika and Callum. We see from the outside how their decisions are impacting others. It’s quiet interesting too, enjoy watching a zombie apocalypse unfold and seeing how they all make it with what they have. We also have Dellian and Yirella, years from now, still hiding and plotting from the Olyix. How they’ve been builtto fill a destiny. Reading about how their lives all rotate around the Olyix and trying to stop them and avoid becoming another generation that are hiding. Yirellais smart, that’s for sure and her love for Dellian is interesting to read. We’ve read about them from when they were kids to grownups who have to figure a way to stop the Olyix. I can’t go into detail without throwing major spoilers but it’s a book worth reading when you have an abundance of free time. These are the books you really need to focus on and remember everything. I hope to review the final book and see if humans can save the universe!
December 6, 2019
Book Review: The Vinyl Underground
I love the cover of this book and when I read the blurb, I loved it even more. It’s not every day I read Historical Young Adult. After reading this book, I think I might dive into that sub-genre even more. 
Dig it. During the tumultuous year of 1968, four teens are drawn together: Ronnie Bingham, who is grieving his brother’s death in Vietnam; Milo, Ronnie’s bookish best friend; “Ramrod,” a star athlete who is secretly avoiding the draft; and Hana, the new girl, a half-Japanese badass rock-n-roller whose presence doesn’t sit well with their segregated high school. The four outcasts find sanctuary in “The Vinyl Underground,” a record club where they spin music, joke, debate, and escape the stifling norms of their small southern town. But Ronnie’s eighteenth birthday is looming. Together, they hatch a plan to keep Ronnie from being drafted. But when a horrific act of racial-charged violence rocks the gang to their core, they decide it’s time for an epic act of rebellion.Thank you to the publishers, Flux and NetGalley who approved my request to read and review this book. TVU comes out next year March 3rd, but I was lucky enough to snag it early! "Only the unfamiliar can shake a sheep enough to jump outta the herd." - 83% into the bookFor twenty-four chapters, it’s written at a good pace with a rising tension, conflict and resolution visible. Rufus does a good job constructing a novel with such controversial themes that’s still applicable in today’s society. Taking place in USA (1968) yet revolving around the Vietnam war and how our protagonist, Ronnie, deals with the death of his older brother, Bruce after being drafted and killed in the war. I loved how Rufus covered all the grief and problems that the characters go through, with pop culture. Hence, The Vinyl Underground. Music brought them together, it’s what still made them teenagers through the difficult times."It ain't easy being the only rose in an asshole parade." - 81% into the bookHana, the Japanese girl is the key in the story. She brings out the racist slurs portrayed on Asians that time being assumed bad as the Vietnamese. Yet Hana is the character we need to shut up people like that! Any chance she got, she stood up and spoke her truth. Nothing got in her way. She was a bad bitch, the kind that you wanted to be like. In her leather jacket and cigarettes galore, nothing stopped her from speaking her mind. "Gangs keep secrets from the world," she said, "not from each other." -19% into the bookIt was hard for me to picture Ronnie; it described him to have a gruff voice… other than that; I enjoyed the story from his eyes. The stages of grief, not only him but his father went through. It was important to see the father’s development as back then, fathers were very persistent to their sons doing the ‘manly’ thing for the pride and family. I loved that subplot of Ronnie not wanting to end up like his brother. "I loved libraries, in general--they were the one place so many conflicting ideas could stand being next to each other. - 23% into the bookMilo and Lewis were the greatest friends! Ronnie’s dad was the coach, so he wasn’t exactly an outsider, he climbed the ladder of hierarchy thanks to his dad and Lewis being the captain. The friend group and connection between the three of them, including Hana was original. They each fought for what they believed in but still came together to help each other. "Mothers can be sweet enough to break your heart, I thought. Then I let her go and turned away." - 3% into the bookIt’s an inspirational story with strong themes and emotional characters. I hope I can purchase a copy and recommend it to everyone I know! "Someplace close to your heart, I thought. I knew where to go. Closer to my heart than she could've imagined, directly to the center, right where it was cracked." - 95% into the book
Dig it. During the tumultuous year of 1968, four teens are drawn together: Ronnie Bingham, who is grieving his brother’s death in Vietnam; Milo, Ronnie’s bookish best friend; “Ramrod,” a star athlete who is secretly avoiding the draft; and Hana, the new girl, a half-Japanese badass rock-n-roller whose presence doesn’t sit well with their segregated high school. The four outcasts find sanctuary in “The Vinyl Underground,” a record club where they spin music, joke, debate, and escape the stifling norms of their small southern town. But Ronnie’s eighteenth birthday is looming. Together, they hatch a plan to keep Ronnie from being drafted. But when a horrific act of racial-charged violence rocks the gang to their core, they decide it’s time for an epic act of rebellion.Thank you to the publishers, Flux and NetGalley who approved my request to read and review this book. TVU comes out next year March 3rd, but I was lucky enough to snag it early! "Only the unfamiliar can shake a sheep enough to jump outta the herd." - 83% into the bookFor twenty-four chapters, it’s written at a good pace with a rising tension, conflict and resolution visible. Rufus does a good job constructing a novel with such controversial themes that’s still applicable in today’s society. Taking place in USA (1968) yet revolving around the Vietnam war and how our protagonist, Ronnie, deals with the death of his older brother, Bruce after being drafted and killed in the war. I loved how Rufus covered all the grief and problems that the characters go through, with pop culture. Hence, The Vinyl Underground. Music brought them together, it’s what still made them teenagers through the difficult times."It ain't easy being the only rose in an asshole parade." - 81% into the bookHana, the Japanese girl is the key in the story. She brings out the racist slurs portrayed on Asians that time being assumed bad as the Vietnamese. Yet Hana is the character we need to shut up people like that! Any chance she got, she stood up and spoke her truth. Nothing got in her way. She was a bad bitch, the kind that you wanted to be like. In her leather jacket and cigarettes galore, nothing stopped her from speaking her mind. "Gangs keep secrets from the world," she said, "not from each other." -19% into the bookIt was hard for me to picture Ronnie; it described him to have a gruff voice… other than that; I enjoyed the story from his eyes. The stages of grief, not only him but his father went through. It was important to see the father’s development as back then, fathers were very persistent to their sons doing the ‘manly’ thing for the pride and family. I loved that subplot of Ronnie not wanting to end up like his brother. "I loved libraries, in general--they were the one place so many conflicting ideas could stand being next to each other. - 23% into the bookMilo and Lewis were the greatest friends! Ronnie’s dad was the coach, so he wasn’t exactly an outsider, he climbed the ladder of hierarchy thanks to his dad and Lewis being the captain. The friend group and connection between the three of them, including Hana was original. They each fought for what they believed in but still came together to help each other. "Mothers can be sweet enough to break your heart, I thought. Then I let her go and turned away." - 3% into the bookIt’s an inspirational story with strong themes and emotional characters. I hope I can purchase a copy and recommend it to everyone I know! "Someplace close to your heart, I thought. I knew where to go. Closer to my heart than she could've imagined, directly to the center, right where it was cracked." - 95% into the book
November 11, 2019
Day in The Life of a Writer
Right after an epic yet busy October of spooky reads and all things Halloween writes gear up for November. Not only because it’s the second last month of the year, but it’s also National Novel Writing Month. You can follow my journey through this month by checking out my Instagram Highlights #NaNoWriMo 
Recently I graduated high school, so it was the perfect time to start a new novel! Well, one I’ve been thinking about and the half planning for about a year. These characters haven’t left my mind since! With such free time to write and gain more inspiration, I thought to write this post since there’s quite a number who’s asked about my writing and how I go about it. I’ve answered similar questions in interviews but this is actually a day with me while I’m writing… prepare yourself.We’ll start off lightly where I wake up around 9 - 10 am. My parents have told me to rest and sleep in but how can I when I’m the woman of the house when they’re gone? There’s stuff to be done! Once I’ve pulled myself out of bed, I do the usual cleaning up and morning routine. Every breakfast has been spent in front of the TV now. Whether it’s a movie or something on Netflix, let’s just call it research. 
Around 11 - 11:30 I clean up the kitchen and do other chores before I set out to do my stuff. Once I’m done, I finally go into writer mode. Don’t tell anyone this, especially my parents but while I’m doing chores, it helps thinking of the scene/chapter I’m about to write. You’re surrounded by silence yet doing something physical. Your brain has to keep active too. There’s a desk in my room with all my notebooks and laptop so I settle down there with either a bottle of water or make a healthy smoothie. My writing goes on for about an hour or two or until I can’t type full sentences anymore or I’ve finished a tough scene that just needed to be spilled.From there it’s almost lunchtime so I take a quick shower and decide what to eat. Then head to the TV for another episode. As you can tell, my day isn’t exciting. Roundabout this time, I push myself up to do something that will benefit me. You’ll find me reading or taking book photos for my Instagram or next book review. I find this time the best because the sun from our backyard creates the best light through the windows. 
The family is home, and that’s when I realized I didn’t do much. Even though I planned so much and haven’t glanced at my To-Do List, that’s super urgent. Late afternoon is upon us and I’m drained even though I have done nothing physical. I love swimming but it’s a trek to the pools. Anxiety grows at me for not getting enough things done today and pulls down. I bury myself in my room until my mother calls me to set the table. When dinner arrives, everyone talks about their day but I barely have anything to share. What can you share from being at home all day?When the table and kitchen are cleared, I watch more TV but this time it’s nice since it’s with the family. Everyone goes to sleep at a reasonable time because they have a busy day tomorrow. My dad is the last to leave the sofa and asks if I will continue watching. I say yes because there’s nothing else to do. When I finished and looked at the clock, it’s past midnight. Time for my night routine even though it will be a new day.
Skincare is important but I’ve barely seen results within the last six years of having it. With one last look in the mirror, I turn all the lights out and go to my room. My sleeping schedule is a mess and I find myself not tired. I go onto all my social media platforms and spend about an hour before I set the phone down and pick up a book. The book keeps me occupied until I hear something and look up to see its dawn. When the light goes off in my room, I see the sun peek between my curtains. It’s a new day, here we go again.
Recently I graduated high school, so it was the perfect time to start a new novel! Well, one I’ve been thinking about and the half planning for about a year. These characters haven’t left my mind since! With such free time to write and gain more inspiration, I thought to write this post since there’s quite a number who’s asked about my writing and how I go about it. I’ve answered similar questions in interviews but this is actually a day with me while I’m writing… prepare yourself.We’ll start off lightly where I wake up around 9 - 10 am. My parents have told me to rest and sleep in but how can I when I’m the woman of the house when they’re gone? There’s stuff to be done! Once I’ve pulled myself out of bed, I do the usual cleaning up and morning routine. Every breakfast has been spent in front of the TV now. Whether it’s a movie or something on Netflix, let’s just call it research. Around 11 - 11:30 I clean up the kitchen and do other chores before I set out to do my stuff. Once I’m done, I finally go into writer mode. Don’t tell anyone this, especially my parents but while I’m doing chores, it helps thinking of the scene/chapter I’m about to write. You’re surrounded by silence yet doing something physical. Your brain has to keep active too. There’s a desk in my room with all my notebooks and laptop so I settle down there with either a bottle of water or make a healthy smoothie. My writing goes on for about an hour or two or until I can’t type full sentences anymore or I’ve finished a tough scene that just needed to be spilled.From there it’s almost lunchtime so I take a quick shower and decide what to eat. Then head to the TV for another episode. As you can tell, my day isn’t exciting. Roundabout this time, I push myself up to do something that will benefit me. You’ll find me reading or taking book photos for my Instagram or next book review. I find this time the best because the sun from our backyard creates the best light through the windows. The family is home, and that’s when I realized I didn’t do much. Even though I planned so much and haven’t glanced at my To-Do List, that’s super urgent. Late afternoon is upon us and I’m drained even though I have done nothing physical. I love swimming but it’s a trek to the pools. Anxiety grows at me for not getting enough things done today and pulls down. I bury myself in my room until my mother calls me to set the table. When dinner arrives, everyone talks about their day but I barely have anything to share. What can you share from being at home all day?When the table and kitchen are cleared, I watch more TV but this time it’s nice since it’s with the family. Everyone goes to sleep at a reasonable time because they have a busy day tomorrow. My dad is the last to leave the sofa and asks if I will continue watching. I say yes because there’s nothing else to do. When I finished and looked at the clock, it’s past midnight. Time for my night routine even though it will be a new day.Skincare is important but I’ve barely seen results within the last six years of having it. With one last look in the mirror, I turn all the lights out and go to my room. My sleeping schedule is a mess and I find myself not tired. I go onto all my social media platforms and spend about an hour before I set the phone down and pick up a book. The book keeps me occupied until I hear something and look up to see its dawn. When the light goes off in my room, I see the sun peek between my curtains. It’s a new day, here we go again.
November 5, 2019
Book Review: Salvation
This really wasn’t what I expected. Yet it blew my mind with creativity and world-building. It took me a while to read this with my busy schedule but this is the book you have to devour and really sit in peace to absorb all the timelines thrown at you at once. We’re in the future the past, then the future, future. It’s astounding how Hamilton set it out.
Humanity's complex relationship with technology spirals out of control in this first book of an all-new trilogy from "the owner of the most powerful imagination in science fiction" (Ken Follett). In 2204, humanity is expanding into the wider galaxy in leaps and bounds. A new technology of linked jump gates has rendered most forms of transporation--including starships--virtually obsolete. Every place on earth, every distant planet mankind has settled, is now merely a step away from any other. And all seems wonderful...until a crashed alien spaceship is found on a newly-located world 89 light years from Earth, harboring seventeen human victims. And of the high-powered team dispatched to investigate the mystery, one is an alien spy... Bursting with tension and big ideas, this standalone series highlights the inventiveness of an author at the top of his game, as the interweaving story lines tell us not only how humanity arrived at this moment, but also the far-future consequences that spin off from it.Thank you to Pan Mac Millan who provided me a paperback copy to read. This is in correlation with the sequel, Salvation Lost which has been currently released! I’ve also been lucky enough to receive a copy of that as well and to review both.I will admit, it took me a while to get into. The story doesn’t go anywhere but Hamilton leaves us in suspense throughout the novel. At the start of the novel, we discover an alien starship with unexpected cargo. Feriton Kayne who works with Connexion Corps devises a team of skilled individuals to investigate the site. That’s when we meet the team and the story officially begins. Each team member tells a certain part of their life, what they’re skilled in and how it all connected to the recent events. Each timeline is written to detail, you’d think it’s a bunch of different authors writing one book but it’s actually one great mind coming together. When each other characters tell their stories, these chapters are considerably long. It’s the only thing I didn’t like based on personal preference. When I read a book, I’d like to stop at the end of the chapter but found myself ending off at chapter breaks to catch my breath. In this storyline, my favorite characters and backgrounds were, Yuri, Callum, and Kandara. Yuri is Feriton’s boss and security chief for CC. He’s humorous and Callum. Most of the characters bantered so much, I loved it. My favorite plot, a team that’s annoyed and despises each other have to come together and work as one. While that storyline is going on, we head off into the future where we meet Dellian and Yirella in Juloss. They’re being trained along with their classmates to one day face the common enemy. They look up to the Five Saints. I think they’re called that if I can recall. Yuri, Callum, Kandara along with Alik (FBI agent) and Jessika. I’d say Salvation was the information we needed in order to understand Hamilton’s world and progress to Salvation Lost. Feriton’s also on a mission to discover a species in hiding, hoping he’ll be able to crack who it is amongst the five. No more on this but I was shook until the end. There isn’t much I can say without revealing anything. I might as well leave you to it. Hamilton succeeded in creating an in-depth world with so many characters and multiple timelines. I don’t think I’ve ever read such a complex sci-fi novel.
Humanity's complex relationship with technology spirals out of control in this first book of an all-new trilogy from "the owner of the most powerful imagination in science fiction" (Ken Follett). In 2204, humanity is expanding into the wider galaxy in leaps and bounds. A new technology of linked jump gates has rendered most forms of transporation--including starships--virtually obsolete. Every place on earth, every distant planet mankind has settled, is now merely a step away from any other. And all seems wonderful...until a crashed alien spaceship is found on a newly-located world 89 light years from Earth, harboring seventeen human victims. And of the high-powered team dispatched to investigate the mystery, one is an alien spy... Bursting with tension and big ideas, this standalone series highlights the inventiveness of an author at the top of his game, as the interweaving story lines tell us not only how humanity arrived at this moment, but also the far-future consequences that spin off from it.Thank you to Pan Mac Millan who provided me a paperback copy to read. This is in correlation with the sequel, Salvation Lost which has been currently released! I’ve also been lucky enough to receive a copy of that as well and to review both.I will admit, it took me a while to get into. The story doesn’t go anywhere but Hamilton leaves us in suspense throughout the novel. At the start of the novel, we discover an alien starship with unexpected cargo. Feriton Kayne who works with Connexion Corps devises a team of skilled individuals to investigate the site. That’s when we meet the team and the story officially begins. Each team member tells a certain part of their life, what they’re skilled in and how it all connected to the recent events. Each timeline is written to detail, you’d think it’s a bunch of different authors writing one book but it’s actually one great mind coming together. When each other characters tell their stories, these chapters are considerably long. It’s the only thing I didn’t like based on personal preference. When I read a book, I’d like to stop at the end of the chapter but found myself ending off at chapter breaks to catch my breath. In this storyline, my favorite characters and backgrounds were, Yuri, Callum, and Kandara. Yuri is Feriton’s boss and security chief for CC. He’s humorous and Callum. Most of the characters bantered so much, I loved it. My favorite plot, a team that’s annoyed and despises each other have to come together and work as one. While that storyline is going on, we head off into the future where we meet Dellian and Yirella in Juloss. They’re being trained along with their classmates to one day face the common enemy. They look up to the Five Saints. I think they’re called that if I can recall. Yuri, Callum, Kandara along with Alik (FBI agent) and Jessika. I’d say Salvation was the information we needed in order to understand Hamilton’s world and progress to Salvation Lost. Feriton’s also on a mission to discover a species in hiding, hoping he’ll be able to crack who it is amongst the five. No more on this but I was shook until the end. There isn’t much I can say without revealing anything. I might as well leave you to it. Hamilton succeeded in creating an in-depth world with so many characters and multiple timelines. I don’t think I’ve ever read such a complex sci-fi novel.
October 4, 2019
Blog Tour Book Review: Marrow Charm
This took me a while to latch onto but once I got the flow of things and followed the story, I was in for an epic adventure. 
‘In his pursuit of the occult, the Third Reich opened the Gate to a realm of magic and brought the world to ruin. The Gate was eventually closed, but They were already in our world and They were hungry.’ -The Lost History, Library of Avergard Azure ‘Azzy’ Brimvine lives in a world decimated by magic, where humans have retreated underground from the overwhelming dangers of the surface. But Below is no safer than Above. Magic borne plagues continue to eat away at the remaining human cities, a sickness that doesn’t merely kill, but creates aberrations from the stricken: people twisted by magic into something dark, dangerous, and powerful. It is an existence of fear and constant dread. When Azzy’s brother, Armin, is infected and cast out into the Above, she sets out after him, determined to be there for him no matter what he becomes. The world Above is full of monsters, both wild and cunning, more human than Azzy was led to believe. Armin is captured and bound for the Auction block of Avergard, a ruthless city of inhuman lords and twisted creatures. To reach him, Azzy must brave the perils of the Above and the chaotic life forms created by the Gate. To reach him, she must find allies and forge new bonds in this broken world. And Azzy must reach him, before Armin’s new power is used to open the Gate once more.Thank you to The Parliament Press who provided me with an e-arc so I could review it and be part of this blog tour! As stated in my introduction, it took a while for me to get into this book. They only gave me a few days to read the book, so I tried to skim/rush but knew I wouldn’t be able to absorb and enjoy the story that way. However, once I started to make sense of things and followed along with Azure, I stayed up through the night reading. For a Fantasy, this was beautifully written and well spaced out. I loved the concept of humans beings forced underground while magic lurks Above. It’s written in third person but most of the time, we see things from our protagonist, Azure or Azzy. I liked the names as well, they weren’t common in Fantasy but still had that touch of ‘human’ to it. "Screams were for fools and food; Azzy refused to be either." - 2% into the bookI loved the adventure and challenges Azzy had to face to rescue her brother, Armin. It’s adventurous yet dark and thrilling. He’s been taken by Elder Prast because Prast assumed one of them would’ve turned out like their mother. Then Armin’s taken by the Snatchers. Armin holds strong magic inside him that can either build him or end him. I’m trying not to drop subtle spoilers but as it’s revealed in the second chapter, they have a guardian who’s a good friend of their mother, Brixby, the apothecary. The lengths that these three will go for each other, softens my heart. I love when family/friendship is shown greatly especially in young adult. I think Jacques played well with this to establish how far Azzy would’ve gone to save her brother. "Each step toward home was another step toward a future without him." - 14% into the bookAt one point I was reading this and thought, wait this sounds familiar. Not copied but similar to Meredith Tate’s The Red Labyrinth. I’ve done a review on this book earlier this year, you can read it here. Totally different worlds but also Fantasy. The female protagonist sets out to enter the labyrinth in order to rescue her friend. Inside she meets someone and they eventually go to the same place. In Marrow Charm, Azzy has a wolf (Kai) who I adored from the start! I knew he’d stick by her as I sensed the connection and feeling of Kai not abandoning her. So there are a few similar but they’re widely different and both enjoyable. One thing I love about our protagonist was that she was brave and showed true emotion. Yes, going Above was scary and dangerous but Azzy knew it was the only way she’d have time to rescue her brother. The descriptive language when Azzy encounters a monster or the connection exchanged between her and Kai are amazing to read. I couldn’t get enough of it. I’d write further but I don’t want to spoil it! This is just the first book in The Gate Cycle series which received a good four stars out of me! I can’t wait to read the next book when it comes out!
‘In his pursuit of the occult, the Third Reich opened the Gate to a realm of magic and brought the world to ruin. The Gate was eventually closed, but They were already in our world and They were hungry.’ -The Lost History, Library of Avergard Azure ‘Azzy’ Brimvine lives in a world decimated by magic, where humans have retreated underground from the overwhelming dangers of the surface. But Below is no safer than Above. Magic borne plagues continue to eat away at the remaining human cities, a sickness that doesn’t merely kill, but creates aberrations from the stricken: people twisted by magic into something dark, dangerous, and powerful. It is an existence of fear and constant dread. When Azzy’s brother, Armin, is infected and cast out into the Above, she sets out after him, determined to be there for him no matter what he becomes. The world Above is full of monsters, both wild and cunning, more human than Azzy was led to believe. Armin is captured and bound for the Auction block of Avergard, a ruthless city of inhuman lords and twisted creatures. To reach him, Azzy must brave the perils of the Above and the chaotic life forms created by the Gate. To reach him, she must find allies and forge new bonds in this broken world. And Azzy must reach him, before Armin’s new power is used to open the Gate once more.Thank you to The Parliament Press who provided me with an e-arc so I could review it and be part of this blog tour! As stated in my introduction, it took a while for me to get into this book. They only gave me a few days to read the book, so I tried to skim/rush but knew I wouldn’t be able to absorb and enjoy the story that way. However, once I started to make sense of things and followed along with Azure, I stayed up through the night reading. For a Fantasy, this was beautifully written and well spaced out. I loved the concept of humans beings forced underground while magic lurks Above. It’s written in third person but most of the time, we see things from our protagonist, Azure or Azzy. I liked the names as well, they weren’t common in Fantasy but still had that touch of ‘human’ to it. "Screams were for fools and food; Azzy refused to be either." - 2% into the bookI loved the adventure and challenges Azzy had to face to rescue her brother, Armin. It’s adventurous yet dark and thrilling. He’s been taken by Elder Prast because Prast assumed one of them would’ve turned out like their mother. Then Armin’s taken by the Snatchers. Armin holds strong magic inside him that can either build him or end him. I’m trying not to drop subtle spoilers but as it’s revealed in the second chapter, they have a guardian who’s a good friend of their mother, Brixby, the apothecary. The lengths that these three will go for each other, softens my heart. I love when family/friendship is shown greatly especially in young adult. I think Jacques played well with this to establish how far Azzy would’ve gone to save her brother. "Each step toward home was another step toward a future without him." - 14% into the bookAt one point I was reading this and thought, wait this sounds familiar. Not copied but similar to Meredith Tate’s The Red Labyrinth. I’ve done a review on this book earlier this year, you can read it here. Totally different worlds but also Fantasy. The female protagonist sets out to enter the labyrinth in order to rescue her friend. Inside she meets someone and they eventually go to the same place. In Marrow Charm, Azzy has a wolf (Kai) who I adored from the start! I knew he’d stick by her as I sensed the connection and feeling of Kai not abandoning her. So there are a few similar but they’re widely different and both enjoyable. One thing I love about our protagonist was that she was brave and showed true emotion. Yes, going Above was scary and dangerous but Azzy knew it was the only way she’d have time to rescue her brother. The descriptive language when Azzy encounters a monster or the connection exchanged between her and Kai are amazing to read. I couldn’t get enough of it. I’d write further but I don’t want to spoil it! This is just the first book in The Gate Cycle series which received a good four stars out of me! I can’t wait to read the next book when it comes out!
October 1, 2019
Book Review: Postcards for a Songbird
I wouldn’t say my favorite YA is Contemporary. If I had to make a list and rank all the genres, it would be at the bottom. The only reason being is that a Contemporary YA read really has to captivate me. This one did an amazing job since I read the entire thing in a day! When I saw that it was 40+ chapters I thought it would’ve taken a few days but nope!
Everyone eventually leaves Wren Plumley. First it was her mother, then her best friend, and then her sister. Now living with only her cop father and her upended dreams, Wren feels stranded, like a songbird falling in a storm. When Wilder, a sickly housebound teen, moves in next door, Wren finally finds what she’s always wanted—a person who can’t leave. But a chance meeting with Luca, the talkative, crush-worthy boy in her driver’s ed class, has Wren wondering if maybe she’s too quick to push people away. Soon, Wren finds herself caught between the safety of a friendship and a love worth fighting for. Wren starts to dream again. But when postcards begin arriving from her sister, Wren must ultimately confront why her mother left fourteen years before and why her sister followed in her footsteps. For her new life to take flight, Wren will have to reconcile the heartbreaking beauty of lost dreams and the beautiful heartbreak of her new reality. Thank you to NetGalley who approved my request and to the publishers, Skyscrape who provided an ebook copy of this beautiful book! I adore the bright cover!One thing that I loved the most about this book was that it took place over an entire summer. At the start, I admit, it took me a few chapters to really get into but once I was in… I couldn’t stop. You’d think forty plus chapters, that it’ll drag or something but I flew through the story. It was well-paced for a Contemporary. The little mysteries that it held with Wilder (the boy next door), her mother and sister and the dad too! He’s under appreciated, I don’t know why but I loved yet pitied the dad. It’s rare to find understanding parents in YA books who get along with their kids. "Gravity is like a parent. It holds you even when you don't want it to." - 3% into the book The father is a huge contribution to the story. Even though Wren doesn’t see her dad a lot since he takes the graveyard shift and sleeps in the day, there are a lot of monologues and blame put on him when her mother and sister leave. Wren is a peculiar main character. Her ‘thing’ is seeing people’s aura from first impressions. At first, I thought it was just a plot device, but it made her see light in Luca and the similarities he held with her sister, Lily."If all you ever see is people at their worst moments--broken, bruised, drugged, dread--humanity becomes the enemy. A thing to be tamed and tasered, not loved." - 3% into the bookLuca and Wren bond over summer with a meeting at the grocery store and driving lessons. Their relationship is adorable and unproblematic. I have to give it to the author. She focused on the family. Yes, Wren’s friends were there most of the time but the author kept the story on track. Luca was a skater boy who at first seemed weird but he becomes so likable that I frowned whenever he wasn’t in a chapter. "Sometimes you don't need to know. Sometimes a person can just tell.""Tell what?""You're worth it." - 21% into the bookThe side characters like Baby Girl and Leai were great subplots. Baby Girl was close to Lily and eventually filled the space of becoming Wren’s older sister. Leai was unusual but quirky which made all these characters unique! I can’t say much about Lily and their mother without giving spoilers. The title of this book really comes into play when Lily sends Songbird a.k.Wren postcards. The mystery among all the usualness that’s happening over summer. While Wren is slowly moving on, there’s still a reminder of her life. Not just from the postcards but from her dad not being around, plenty of flashbacks of her sister and little things about her mother mentioned. "That's the real story why people do drugs, Songbird. You can't really live without complete, full love, and so you fill the space with medicine to your heart together." - 13% into the bookI really enjoyed this book. The writing was deep and instantly drew me in where I couldn’t even sleep! This has to be my Contemporary read of the year. I’m proud to give it five stars for originality, pacing and writing style."Sometimes beautiful and dangerous go together." - 13% into the book
Everyone eventually leaves Wren Plumley. First it was her mother, then her best friend, and then her sister. Now living with only her cop father and her upended dreams, Wren feels stranded, like a songbird falling in a storm. When Wilder, a sickly housebound teen, moves in next door, Wren finally finds what she’s always wanted—a person who can’t leave. But a chance meeting with Luca, the talkative, crush-worthy boy in her driver’s ed class, has Wren wondering if maybe she’s too quick to push people away. Soon, Wren finds herself caught between the safety of a friendship and a love worth fighting for. Wren starts to dream again. But when postcards begin arriving from her sister, Wren must ultimately confront why her mother left fourteen years before and why her sister followed in her footsteps. For her new life to take flight, Wren will have to reconcile the heartbreaking beauty of lost dreams and the beautiful heartbreak of her new reality. Thank you to NetGalley who approved my request and to the publishers, Skyscrape who provided an ebook copy of this beautiful book! I adore the bright cover!One thing that I loved the most about this book was that it took place over an entire summer. At the start, I admit, it took me a few chapters to really get into but once I was in… I couldn’t stop. You’d think forty plus chapters, that it’ll drag or something but I flew through the story. It was well-paced for a Contemporary. The little mysteries that it held with Wilder (the boy next door), her mother and sister and the dad too! He’s under appreciated, I don’t know why but I loved yet pitied the dad. It’s rare to find understanding parents in YA books who get along with their kids. "Gravity is like a parent. It holds you even when you don't want it to." - 3% into the book The father is a huge contribution to the story. Even though Wren doesn’t see her dad a lot since he takes the graveyard shift and sleeps in the day, there are a lot of monologues and blame put on him when her mother and sister leave. Wren is a peculiar main character. Her ‘thing’ is seeing people’s aura from first impressions. At first, I thought it was just a plot device, but it made her see light in Luca and the similarities he held with her sister, Lily."If all you ever see is people at their worst moments--broken, bruised, drugged, dread--humanity becomes the enemy. A thing to be tamed and tasered, not loved." - 3% into the bookLuca and Wren bond over summer with a meeting at the grocery store and driving lessons. Their relationship is adorable and unproblematic. I have to give it to the author. She focused on the family. Yes, Wren’s friends were there most of the time but the author kept the story on track. Luca was a skater boy who at first seemed weird but he becomes so likable that I frowned whenever he wasn’t in a chapter. "Sometimes you don't need to know. Sometimes a person can just tell.""Tell what?""You're worth it." - 21% into the bookThe side characters like Baby Girl and Leai were great subplots. Baby Girl was close to Lily and eventually filled the space of becoming Wren’s older sister. Leai was unusual but quirky which made all these characters unique! I can’t say much about Lily and their mother without giving spoilers. The title of this book really comes into play when Lily sends Songbird a.k.Wren postcards. The mystery among all the usualness that’s happening over summer. While Wren is slowly moving on, there’s still a reminder of her life. Not just from the postcards but from her dad not being around, plenty of flashbacks of her sister and little things about her mother mentioned. "That's the real story why people do drugs, Songbird. You can't really live without complete, full love, and so you fill the space with medicine to your heart together." - 13% into the bookI really enjoyed this book. The writing was deep and instantly drew me in where I couldn’t even sleep! This has to be my Contemporary read of the year. I’m proud to give it five stars for originality, pacing and writing style."Sometimes beautiful and dangerous go together." - 13% into the book
August 15, 2019
Blog Tour Book Review: Double-Crossing the Bridge
This was the strangest Fantasy I’ve ever ready, but I really enjoyed it! From the first chapter, it drew me in because as much as I love heist movies, I’ve never read a book about a heist before. After this review, I’ll be scouring for more heist books, please, if you have any suggestions/recommendations, tell!
Rent in New Metta is through the cavern ceiling. When Granu barely survives her first gig teaching students who attempt to fillet her for lunch, the baby-eating troll ends up unemployed and facing eviction. Granu's only prospect for income is grueling work in the tar pits. That is, until her playboy best friend devises a perfect, if suicidal, scheme—a heist! The Covered Bridge, the largest source of income for the city, has New Metta well under hoof. In a week, TCB Corporation pulls in enough cash to buy a small country. It's the ideal target, but security is top-notch. Granu needs three things to survive this heist: a crew of specialists, impenetrable sun protection, and gallons of grog. There’s just one thing Granu doesn’t plan for—those damn meddling billy goats.Thank you to The Parliament House who gave me the opportunity to be part of this blog tour. Another great read! From the blurb, you can already grasp what will happen. Most of the book is the buildup to the heist and the structuring of the team. I received this book as an ebook and thought Thirty-Eight chapters were a lot for a simple heist. However, as I read, I flew through the chapters. It paced out good and didn’t drag. The characters had backstories and personalities that were interesting. Set underground in a city called New Metta with many creatures, you’d think life would be different but the author linked it back to the human world. The references and issues faced by these characters were a mere representation of what we face today.With topics, such as equality, hierarchy, sexism and many more mentioned it didn’t make the book just about a heist. There was still that constant humor between the characters yet the seriousness of each other in their own way that made the book entirely realistic even if the characters were a bunch of trolls. At one point I loved Granu because she wasn’t naïve or soft-spoken like they represent other females. Yet there came a point in the book where she became bossy and I know, being the leader of a heist that wasn’t even your idea is nerve-wracking but she could’ve chilled out. Granu’s an interesting character because most trolls have big black eyes while she had green eyes if I’m not mistaken she’s a mixed breed. Weird. Kradduck, the supposed player of the group that gets all the ladies not only because Granu finds him handsome (I ship them) but because he works for the place that they want to pull a heist. It’s initially his idea because he hates how they cheat and embarrassed his mother. Kradduck’s motive is revenge while Granu and Fillig just want a better life where they don’t have to worry about their bank balance. Onto Fillig who’s the sensible one of the trio? I think he’s a mixture of Kradduck and Granu. He still gets the ladies, sometimes, but he’s thoughtful and always has Granu’s back. That’s something I love about the three of them, through this entire book, these characters looked out for each other. Nothing and no one got in their way or changed their feelings about each other. It really showed the bond they have for each other and meeting at the same place every day after work and knowing each other since they were in elementary school. Then there’s Len, Granu’s stalker neighbor who, at the start of the book, seems to be obsessed with her. He’s a hacker who you can guess, gets involved with the heist. Len’s character isn’t what I imagined being. You’d think, a hacker would be smarter than that. I won’t give away what he did, but his character is a classic representation of how power and superiority can corrupt someone’s mind. Overall, I really enjoyed it. The plot twist, I did not see coming; I knew there was something that would happen but I never thought something like that would happen! There are a few that caught me off guard so I had to finish the book instead of doing my homework. Another five stars read, not just because I enjoyed it but the plot was well-paced, characters had a deeper meaning while still playing it off cool so that readers would enjoy it. With it being Fantasy as well! It’s definitely something you’d want to pick up if you want something utterly new in Fantasy.
Rent in New Metta is through the cavern ceiling. When Granu barely survives her first gig teaching students who attempt to fillet her for lunch, the baby-eating troll ends up unemployed and facing eviction. Granu's only prospect for income is grueling work in the tar pits. That is, until her playboy best friend devises a perfect, if suicidal, scheme—a heist! The Covered Bridge, the largest source of income for the city, has New Metta well under hoof. In a week, TCB Corporation pulls in enough cash to buy a small country. It's the ideal target, but security is top-notch. Granu needs three things to survive this heist: a crew of specialists, impenetrable sun protection, and gallons of grog. There’s just one thing Granu doesn’t plan for—those damn meddling billy goats.Thank you to The Parliament House who gave me the opportunity to be part of this blog tour. Another great read! From the blurb, you can already grasp what will happen. Most of the book is the buildup to the heist and the structuring of the team. I received this book as an ebook and thought Thirty-Eight chapters were a lot for a simple heist. However, as I read, I flew through the chapters. It paced out good and didn’t drag. The characters had backstories and personalities that were interesting. Set underground in a city called New Metta with many creatures, you’d think life would be different but the author linked it back to the human world. The references and issues faced by these characters were a mere representation of what we face today.With topics, such as equality, hierarchy, sexism and many more mentioned it didn’t make the book just about a heist. There was still that constant humor between the characters yet the seriousness of each other in their own way that made the book entirely realistic even if the characters were a bunch of trolls. At one point I loved Granu because she wasn’t naïve or soft-spoken like they represent other females. Yet there came a point in the book where she became bossy and I know, being the leader of a heist that wasn’t even your idea is nerve-wracking but she could’ve chilled out. Granu’s an interesting character because most trolls have big black eyes while she had green eyes if I’m not mistaken she’s a mixed breed. Weird. Kradduck, the supposed player of the group that gets all the ladies not only because Granu finds him handsome (I ship them) but because he works for the place that they want to pull a heist. It’s initially his idea because he hates how they cheat and embarrassed his mother. Kradduck’s motive is revenge while Granu and Fillig just want a better life where they don’t have to worry about their bank balance. Onto Fillig who’s the sensible one of the trio? I think he’s a mixture of Kradduck and Granu. He still gets the ladies, sometimes, but he’s thoughtful and always has Granu’s back. That’s something I love about the three of them, through this entire book, these characters looked out for each other. Nothing and no one got in their way or changed their feelings about each other. It really showed the bond they have for each other and meeting at the same place every day after work and knowing each other since they were in elementary school. Then there’s Len, Granu’s stalker neighbor who, at the start of the book, seems to be obsessed with her. He’s a hacker who you can guess, gets involved with the heist. Len’s character isn’t what I imagined being. You’d think, a hacker would be smarter than that. I won’t give away what he did, but his character is a classic representation of how power and superiority can corrupt someone’s mind. Overall, I really enjoyed it. The plot twist, I did not see coming; I knew there was something that would happen but I never thought something like that would happen! There are a few that caught me off guard so I had to finish the book instead of doing my homework. Another five stars read, not just because I enjoyed it but the plot was well-paced, characters had a deeper meaning while still playing it off cool so that readers would enjoy it. With it being Fantasy as well! It’s definitely something you’d want to pick up if you want something utterly new in Fantasy.
July 26, 2019
Blog Tour Book Review: The Sin Soldiers
When I read the blurb for this book, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I was in the mood for YA Science Fiction and already had a few lined up but this opportunity came and I knew I had to take it!
The Sin Soldiers is the first book in the Fragments series. I already can’t wait for the next book! Since I’m not good with summaries and probably will give most of the story away, here’s the blurb:Red compound makes them angry. Yellow exhausts them. Blue drives them into a state of ravenous addiction. The thief Kai knows about the chemically controlled soldiers of the Eastern forces and their savage, deadly nature. When a robbery attempt at Club Seven goes wrong, Kai is captured by a handler and his bestial soldier-boy. She wakes up inside the military base with no idea what happened to her twin brother, Dex.Things go from bad to worse when Kai is started on a drug and training regimen, and forced to take injections of blue compound. The scientists in charge plan to make her into a working soldier who will mine the mysterious power crystals beneath the desert. Kai becomes a victim of the bully Finn, a handsome but nasty soldier whose years on red compound seem to have erased his humanity. Still, she begins to pity the Seven Soldiers, including the monstrous boy who tried to rip her to shreds at the club. They appear to be nothing more than genetically enhanced, drug-controlled teenagers.On the outside, Dex and his tech-savvy boyfriend try to crack the soldiers’ chemical code to find a weakness that will break the system. But Kai has already been drawn deep into her new world. Strong feelings for the soldiers she’s come to know have started to cloud her judgment. Can she escape and find Dex without becoming a monster herself?Thank you to The Parliament House who gave me the opportunity to review this book. In no way does the process of how I received this book, influence my opinion. This was written really well and felt fresh. I can tell the world built, was well thought through. It’s different from everything being just in labs and so dystopian. There were different parts/settings. It’s written in the third person which I like recently when telling stories like these. We’re brought into the world of every character while knowing who’s the main characters. For seventeen chapters, it was paced out well. Not once did I want a chapter to end or felt like it dragged because there was always something to look forward to? I had high expectations for our main character, Kai. Being a thief in a dystopian setting surrounded by soldiers should toughen you up, right? Yet when Kai’s captured it’s as if an entirely different person took over. Someone who’s scared an afraid and never seen soldiers before. It pushed me off that she didn’t use her strengths as much but showed more weaknesses. Her brother, Dex showed his ability when he tried to find his twin sister. He was smart and acted as if he knew what he was doing. Yet later in the book, he becomes gullible and oblivious to the right things. At one point it aggravated me he was so blind to see the bad. Charlie Manning, our blue compound soldier caught my heart, but I pitied him every step of the way. Blue makes you addicted and turns you mentally into a beast. Throughout the novel, Charlie mentions that he’s just waiting for it to come—which is right around the corner. The author made the right move to make someone as dangerous as Charlie have an open personality. It’s one way to draw in the readers. Finn was quite an obvious character that I knew from the start would soften for Kai and have a backstory. He’s a red compound and made Kai’s life even worse when she was put on the blue compound. Tessa was the girl before Kai. I love how Charlie and Finn are so caring toward her and how she treats both of them fairly. It makes sense to have such attachments with people you’ve known your entire life. She’s not like other female characters, Tessa shows emotions but doesn’t let them become her weakness. All three of them are alert and knows the drill. They have to though, they’ve been doing this since they were kids!Apart from the different characters, I found it easier to navigate through the novel after a while. It was easy on what to expect next. Especially with Dex’s connections when Kai was captured. A bigger threat awaited all of them on the outside. "For he that fights and runs away, may live to fight another day," - 47% into the bookI liked the red, blue and yellow compound. It sort of reminded me of The Maze Runner and how they had to use children who had the cure. They were kept separate. The Sin Soldiers, however, are used until they physically and mentally have no use in the world left. They have handlers and theirs is Marco who wasn’t liked by many and I wished moved onto their side. Since Charlie is blue, every day he’s being stripped from humanity. There’s more compound going into him to a point where he’ll just be a solider, nothing less or more. I’m intrigued to see where the author takes Charlie especially. Finn was almost there but eased a bit after Kai arrived. I’m not too sure about Tessa...Overall, I enjoyed the story enough to give it four stars and can’t wait for the second book!
The Sin Soldiers is the first book in the Fragments series. I already can’t wait for the next book! Since I’m not good with summaries and probably will give most of the story away, here’s the blurb:Red compound makes them angry. Yellow exhausts them. Blue drives them into a state of ravenous addiction. The thief Kai knows about the chemically controlled soldiers of the Eastern forces and their savage, deadly nature. When a robbery attempt at Club Seven goes wrong, Kai is captured by a handler and his bestial soldier-boy. She wakes up inside the military base with no idea what happened to her twin brother, Dex.Things go from bad to worse when Kai is started on a drug and training regimen, and forced to take injections of blue compound. The scientists in charge plan to make her into a working soldier who will mine the mysterious power crystals beneath the desert. Kai becomes a victim of the bully Finn, a handsome but nasty soldier whose years on red compound seem to have erased his humanity. Still, she begins to pity the Seven Soldiers, including the monstrous boy who tried to rip her to shreds at the club. They appear to be nothing more than genetically enhanced, drug-controlled teenagers.On the outside, Dex and his tech-savvy boyfriend try to crack the soldiers’ chemical code to find a weakness that will break the system. But Kai has already been drawn deep into her new world. Strong feelings for the soldiers she’s come to know have started to cloud her judgment. Can she escape and find Dex without becoming a monster herself?Thank you to The Parliament House who gave me the opportunity to review this book. In no way does the process of how I received this book, influence my opinion. This was written really well and felt fresh. I can tell the world built, was well thought through. It’s different from everything being just in labs and so dystopian. There were different parts/settings. It’s written in the third person which I like recently when telling stories like these. We’re brought into the world of every character while knowing who’s the main characters. For seventeen chapters, it was paced out well. Not once did I want a chapter to end or felt like it dragged because there was always something to look forward to? I had high expectations for our main character, Kai. Being a thief in a dystopian setting surrounded by soldiers should toughen you up, right? Yet when Kai’s captured it’s as if an entirely different person took over. Someone who’s scared an afraid and never seen soldiers before. It pushed me off that she didn’t use her strengths as much but showed more weaknesses. Her brother, Dex showed his ability when he tried to find his twin sister. He was smart and acted as if he knew what he was doing. Yet later in the book, he becomes gullible and oblivious to the right things. At one point it aggravated me he was so blind to see the bad. Charlie Manning, our blue compound soldier caught my heart, but I pitied him every step of the way. Blue makes you addicted and turns you mentally into a beast. Throughout the novel, Charlie mentions that he’s just waiting for it to come—which is right around the corner. The author made the right move to make someone as dangerous as Charlie have an open personality. It’s one way to draw in the readers. Finn was quite an obvious character that I knew from the start would soften for Kai and have a backstory. He’s a red compound and made Kai’s life even worse when she was put on the blue compound. Tessa was the girl before Kai. I love how Charlie and Finn are so caring toward her and how she treats both of them fairly. It makes sense to have such attachments with people you’ve known your entire life. She’s not like other female characters, Tessa shows emotions but doesn’t let them become her weakness. All three of them are alert and knows the drill. They have to though, they’ve been doing this since they were kids!Apart from the different characters, I found it easier to navigate through the novel after a while. It was easy on what to expect next. Especially with Dex’s connections when Kai was captured. A bigger threat awaited all of them on the outside. "For he that fights and runs away, may live to fight another day," - 47% into the bookI liked the red, blue and yellow compound. It sort of reminded me of The Maze Runner and how they had to use children who had the cure. They were kept separate. The Sin Soldiers, however, are used until they physically and mentally have no use in the world left. They have handlers and theirs is Marco who wasn’t liked by many and I wished moved onto their side. Since Charlie is blue, every day he’s being stripped from humanity. There’s more compound going into him to a point where he’ll just be a solider, nothing less or more. I’m intrigued to see where the author takes Charlie especially. Finn was almost there but eased a bit after Kai arrived. I’m not too sure about Tessa...Overall, I enjoyed the story enough to give it four stars and can’t wait for the second book!
July 5, 2019
Book Review: Starworld
Ironically, when I read this story, I was in the same position as Sam. I didn’t feel like I belonged to any group of friends and my friends had other friends. Then there’s that one friend who changes everything but not everything is all rainbows and unicorns.
This time I won’t write up my blurb/summary since the blurb given is accurate. Sam Jones and Zoe Miller have one thing in common: they both want an escape from reality. Loner Sam flies under the radar at school and walks on eggshells at home to manage her mom’s obsessive-compulsive disorder, wondering how she can ever leave to pursue her dream of studying aerospace engineering. Popular, people-pleasing Zoe puts up walls so no one can see her true self: the girl who was abandoned as an infant, whose adoptive mother has cancer, and whose disabled brother is being sent away to live in a facility. When an unexpected encounter results in the girls’ exchanging phone numbers, they forge a connection through text messages that expands into a private universe they call Starworld. In Starworld, they find hilarious adventures, kindness and understanding, and the magic of being seen for who they really are. But when Sam’s feelings for Zoe turn into something more, will the universe they’ve built survive the inevitable explosion?Thank you to NetGalley who approved my request to read and review this book and to the publisher who provided me a copy. In no way does the process of how I received this book, influence my opinion. I liked the whole Starworld created, that was different and really contributed to the text message, yet at one point I just skimmed through because there was a lot. Even though this was a proof copy, I hope they made the text messages in bold or a different font as there’s so much. I don’t think I’ve come across so much text messages in a novel unless it’s set in that format. It’s written in the first person, alternating between Sam and Zoe. The start was slow to get into things but once it did; it sucked me into the story and just waited for that moment that we all knew was coming, eventually. It came later. It took a while, and I thought they have revealed it through Starworld but the climax happened about 70% into the book. Everything else seemed to be added on. After the climax, everything dragged to a point where I was reading and thought the authors didn’t know what an ending to create so they just kept on writing. I don’t know how to feel about the ending, Sam deserved better than Zoe who’s so self-absorbed and most of the time just pity Sam. Which, brings me to my next point. The characters. I liked Sam Jones because she was plain and realistic. She had goals and dreams yet, didn’t have anyone to share with. She gave it her all. Starworld, Zoe and her mother. Even Zoe’s brother, Jonah to please Zoe because she knew it would’ve made her happy. Yet one thing that ticked me off and that I couldn’t get was how distant she was to her father. All the memories she’d share with him were happy and suddenly when her dad left she hates him? Assumptions without asking and when we finally meet the father, he’s understanding and way different to cliched parents who’ve divorced. The epilogue was written in Zoe’s perspective yet I wished it ended in Sam since it started with her. Same literally gave Zoe everything, the best birthday gifts, reasons to smile, entertainment, Starworld to escape in and a ride to school once in a while… she deserved better. Yet her ending seemed to be a new beginning for her in London? Illinois? I’m not sure."After all, if he wanted to see me, maybe he should have thought about that before he put an ocean between us." - 6% into the bookOnto Zoe Miller who wasn’t all that as she’s described in the blurb and through Sam’s perspective. It’s the cliches part of the book. Perfectly, beautiful girl had problems… newsflash, everyone does. Zoe’s been through a lot, I get that but she made everything about her. At one point she wants to find her real parents which are fine but she compares literally everything! Whatever she does, she has to think who she adapted it from… her adoptive parents or biological parents. Also, spoiler alert, her real parents aren’t in the book if you’re wondering if she ever gets there. Also, she dated the hottest and most athletic guy, Hunter who was so sweet! I wish we’d seen more of him. They broke up too soon in the book and when she told Sam, it sort of implied to Sam that she’s no longer interested in Hunter but someone else. They spoke whenever they could and was there for each other. So I don’t blame Sam for kissing Zoe. Then Zoe wondered how she let her on… not a smart girl, she frustrated me so much. After the climax, she pitied Sam so much with, wait for it… ‘Oh, Sam’ almost every time like Sam was a little girl. I won’t go into the minor characters in such detail but Sam’s mother wasn’t the best mother and was self-fish. Her OCD was no excuse. Sam worked day and night to satisfy her mother’s needs and comply with a routine. She was afraid of what might happen if her mother lost it. It’s understandable that she cares, but no person goes through this, let alone a teenager girl by herself. The mother was no help either who was oblivious to her daughter’s life. It reached a point where Sam was afraid she might become like her mother. Onto, Jonah, Zoe’s brother. Not the best portrayal of an autistic character. There’s only bad moments and sacredness of how Jonah might react when he doesn’t get his way. Then the satisfying feeling of when he doesn’t hurt anyone. When he’s transferred to a facility, it became all about the family, not Jonah. Their emotions and when they visited him, Zoe realized things done there that they didn’t think of doing at home. Jonah seemed like an excuse for Zoe to deal with her mother having cancer and being adopted. I wish there were more real moments shared with him and the family where he’s treated normally and not where his disability is mentioned every page. So, back to why I liked this book. If I wasn’t going through what Sam went I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much. I would’ve been more critical and observant rather than relating and becoming emotional when Sam and Zoe became close. For once, I’ve read and enjoyed emotionally a story about two friends. I haven’t read a lot of books where it’s the main plot and I’m glad I came across this one. It made me realize that not everyone in permanent. Yes, you’ll go through many friends but it’s when you find that friend that changes your world and you guys become so close and inevitable that it feels like nothing can tear you two apart. Then something happens that changes everything and you realize how different you two are even though you’ve related. You realize that it will be okay with whatever happens because it’s the memories and how that person made you feel and how they were there for you at the time. It’s okay if things don’t worry out or if you’re not close anymore and it’s fine if you pop in once in a while to checkup on each other. Yet there’s still that feeling where one cares for the other more and that’s the worst because one always ends up heartbroken."She's an unexpected side quest on the quacktacular odyssey that is my life." - 14% into the bookI liked the themes and the plot of this book but as always, the characters and draggy part of the story made me lower my rating. Starworld got 3 stars from me because I thoroughly enjoyed it at the time.
This time I won’t write up my blurb/summary since the blurb given is accurate. Sam Jones and Zoe Miller have one thing in common: they both want an escape from reality. Loner Sam flies under the radar at school and walks on eggshells at home to manage her mom’s obsessive-compulsive disorder, wondering how she can ever leave to pursue her dream of studying aerospace engineering. Popular, people-pleasing Zoe puts up walls so no one can see her true self: the girl who was abandoned as an infant, whose adoptive mother has cancer, and whose disabled brother is being sent away to live in a facility. When an unexpected encounter results in the girls’ exchanging phone numbers, they forge a connection through text messages that expands into a private universe they call Starworld. In Starworld, they find hilarious adventures, kindness and understanding, and the magic of being seen for who they really are. But when Sam’s feelings for Zoe turn into something more, will the universe they’ve built survive the inevitable explosion?Thank you to NetGalley who approved my request to read and review this book and to the publisher who provided me a copy. In no way does the process of how I received this book, influence my opinion. I liked the whole Starworld created, that was different and really contributed to the text message, yet at one point I just skimmed through because there was a lot. Even though this was a proof copy, I hope they made the text messages in bold or a different font as there’s so much. I don’t think I’ve come across so much text messages in a novel unless it’s set in that format. It’s written in the first person, alternating between Sam and Zoe. The start was slow to get into things but once it did; it sucked me into the story and just waited for that moment that we all knew was coming, eventually. It came later. It took a while, and I thought they have revealed it through Starworld but the climax happened about 70% into the book. Everything else seemed to be added on. After the climax, everything dragged to a point where I was reading and thought the authors didn’t know what an ending to create so they just kept on writing. I don’t know how to feel about the ending, Sam deserved better than Zoe who’s so self-absorbed and most of the time just pity Sam. Which, brings me to my next point. The characters. I liked Sam Jones because she was plain and realistic. She had goals and dreams yet, didn’t have anyone to share with. She gave it her all. Starworld, Zoe and her mother. Even Zoe’s brother, Jonah to please Zoe because she knew it would’ve made her happy. Yet one thing that ticked me off and that I couldn’t get was how distant she was to her father. All the memories she’d share with him were happy and suddenly when her dad left she hates him? Assumptions without asking and when we finally meet the father, he’s understanding and way different to cliched parents who’ve divorced. The epilogue was written in Zoe’s perspective yet I wished it ended in Sam since it started with her. Same literally gave Zoe everything, the best birthday gifts, reasons to smile, entertainment, Starworld to escape in and a ride to school once in a while… she deserved better. Yet her ending seemed to be a new beginning for her in London? Illinois? I’m not sure."After all, if he wanted to see me, maybe he should have thought about that before he put an ocean between us." - 6% into the bookOnto Zoe Miller who wasn’t all that as she’s described in the blurb and through Sam’s perspective. It’s the cliches part of the book. Perfectly, beautiful girl had problems… newsflash, everyone does. Zoe’s been through a lot, I get that but she made everything about her. At one point she wants to find her real parents which are fine but she compares literally everything! Whatever she does, she has to think who she adapted it from… her adoptive parents or biological parents. Also, spoiler alert, her real parents aren’t in the book if you’re wondering if she ever gets there. Also, she dated the hottest and most athletic guy, Hunter who was so sweet! I wish we’d seen more of him. They broke up too soon in the book and when she told Sam, it sort of implied to Sam that she’s no longer interested in Hunter but someone else. They spoke whenever they could and was there for each other. So I don’t blame Sam for kissing Zoe. Then Zoe wondered how she let her on… not a smart girl, she frustrated me so much. After the climax, she pitied Sam so much with, wait for it… ‘Oh, Sam’ almost every time like Sam was a little girl. I won’t go into the minor characters in such detail but Sam’s mother wasn’t the best mother and was self-fish. Her OCD was no excuse. Sam worked day and night to satisfy her mother’s needs and comply with a routine. She was afraid of what might happen if her mother lost it. It’s understandable that she cares, but no person goes through this, let alone a teenager girl by herself. The mother was no help either who was oblivious to her daughter’s life. It reached a point where Sam was afraid she might become like her mother. Onto, Jonah, Zoe’s brother. Not the best portrayal of an autistic character. There’s only bad moments and sacredness of how Jonah might react when he doesn’t get his way. Then the satisfying feeling of when he doesn’t hurt anyone. When he’s transferred to a facility, it became all about the family, not Jonah. Their emotions and when they visited him, Zoe realized things done there that they didn’t think of doing at home. Jonah seemed like an excuse for Zoe to deal with her mother having cancer and being adopted. I wish there were more real moments shared with him and the family where he’s treated normally and not where his disability is mentioned every page. So, back to why I liked this book. If I wasn’t going through what Sam went I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much. I would’ve been more critical and observant rather than relating and becoming emotional when Sam and Zoe became close. For once, I’ve read and enjoyed emotionally a story about two friends. I haven’t read a lot of books where it’s the main plot and I’m glad I came across this one. It made me realize that not everyone in permanent. Yes, you’ll go through many friends but it’s when you find that friend that changes your world and you guys become so close and inevitable that it feels like nothing can tear you two apart. Then something happens that changes everything and you realize how different you two are even though you’ve related. You realize that it will be okay with whatever happens because it’s the memories and how that person made you feel and how they were there for you at the time. It’s okay if things don’t worry out or if you’re not close anymore and it’s fine if you pop in once in a while to checkup on each other. Yet there’s still that feeling where one cares for the other more and that’s the worst because one always ends up heartbroken."She's an unexpected side quest on the quacktacular odyssey that is my life." - 14% into the bookI liked the themes and the plot of this book but as always, the characters and draggy part of the story made me lower my rating. Starworld got 3 stars from me because I thoroughly enjoyed it at the time.
June 28, 2019
Book Review: Our Chemical Hearts
When the news came out that this book was being adapted into a movie, I knew my review had to be up, eventually. I’m trying to make it a habit where I read the book before the adaptation and for once, I can watch the movie in peace because I’ve read this last year already!
Our Chemical Hearts is about the new girl, Grace Town, her walking stick and boyish clothes makes Henry Page curious, especially when she’s into writing—just like him. As the editors of the school newspaper, Henry is soon warped into Grace’s life and why she’s so withdrawn from the world. As he finds out, he must decide whether to accept Grace as she is or move on…"I let her draw all the breath from my lips to save herself." - page 145I tried to summarise with no spoilers. When I read this book, I recently added it to my ‘To Be Read List’ and I was still figuring out what I like to read. I borrowed it from the library, not only for its intriguing blurb but cute cover too!I haven’t read other books by Krystal Sutherland but while reading this one; it felt like I read another version of John Green. The dramatic quotes and metaphors, as touching and beautiful as they were—sometimes they weren’t necessary. Although, it kept me curious every chapter as it didn’t reveal much yet made me turn the page to read more. Even if the chapters were long. "When you hear that the milky way is made up of 400 billion stars, and you think "Oh shit, that's pretty big" but your puny brain will never really be able to comprehend how gigantic it is because we were built too small. That's what it felt like." - page 65I liked the flow of the book; the plot was interesting and the emotions behind it. It had a good ending that wasn’t that cliche. Sutherland introduced us to Henry’s life and just an event so to say, that takes place. Once he’s gone over that obstacle or experienced it, we’re taken out but left with a satisfied yet understanding ending. As a writer, I found it as closure. The characters and their feelings wouldn’t change that much in a book. It takes time, and that’s what made Grace so realistic. "Grace Town is a riddle wrapped up in a mystery inside an enigma." - Henry, page 70Yet, I wasn’t a fan of the characters in the book. I liked the plot more than the characters. First, our lovely writer, Henry Page. Personality wise, he’s okay at the start but ended up needy and made it all about it. I know it becomes hard when you have a crush on someone and just want to be with them but Henry seemed like he could ‘fix’ Grace. It’s like he was obsessed with her. Yet in the beginning he described her as a heroin junkie, which by far is the worst description ever. Come on Henry, you’re a writer… think better. Then there’s Murray, a walking and living Australian stereotype which annoyed me. Lola felt queer-bating because she was just there. Henry’s sister who made little sense at all. Someone who went to Yale yet was suspended and caused ructions in high school? That doesn’t make sense at all. Even Henry’s parents are too ‘chilled’ to be actual parents. They let their kids drink and stay out. The author tried too hard to make her characters different. A few would work but all of them was too overwhelming. Grace Town was realistic to me but at one time I was like ‘Come on! Just show us already!’ Yet from Henry’s perspective he’s clueless compared to the readers who would’ve figured it out by the little clues already. "Thinking of Grace Town and how, if people really were assembled from pieces of the universe, her soul was made of stardust and chaos." - page 113 I want to discuss the theme of this book but I don’t want to give away any spoilers. It was realistic and what made it better was that we saw it through a teenager’s perspective. It takes time and everyone goes through it differently, whether there’s physical or mental change… it’s something that isn’t overcome with overnight. It could take years or never to accept what’s happened, that’s why I’m happy with the ending. There’s more to Henry and Grace’s lives but that’s all we get. Unless there’s a sequel ;)"I didn't want to say anything to the kid, but I thought as we watched her, that the more he breathed her in, the sicker and sicker he'd get." - Murray, page 126I wouldn’t know how to rate this… there're some things I love while others I hate. Yet for the plot and the message it sent, I’ll give MCH a rating of three stars. A knock-off of John Green but still good.
Our Chemical Hearts is about the new girl, Grace Town, her walking stick and boyish clothes makes Henry Page curious, especially when she’s into writing—just like him. As the editors of the school newspaper, Henry is soon warped into Grace’s life and why she’s so withdrawn from the world. As he finds out, he must decide whether to accept Grace as she is or move on…"I let her draw all the breath from my lips to save herself." - page 145I tried to summarise with no spoilers. When I read this book, I recently added it to my ‘To Be Read List’ and I was still figuring out what I like to read. I borrowed it from the library, not only for its intriguing blurb but cute cover too!I haven’t read other books by Krystal Sutherland but while reading this one; it felt like I read another version of John Green. The dramatic quotes and metaphors, as touching and beautiful as they were—sometimes they weren’t necessary. Although, it kept me curious every chapter as it didn’t reveal much yet made me turn the page to read more. Even if the chapters were long. "When you hear that the milky way is made up of 400 billion stars, and you think "Oh shit, that's pretty big" but your puny brain will never really be able to comprehend how gigantic it is because we were built too small. That's what it felt like." - page 65I liked the flow of the book; the plot was interesting and the emotions behind it. It had a good ending that wasn’t that cliche. Sutherland introduced us to Henry’s life and just an event so to say, that takes place. Once he’s gone over that obstacle or experienced it, we’re taken out but left with a satisfied yet understanding ending. As a writer, I found it as closure. The characters and their feelings wouldn’t change that much in a book. It takes time, and that’s what made Grace so realistic. "Grace Town is a riddle wrapped up in a mystery inside an enigma." - Henry, page 70Yet, I wasn’t a fan of the characters in the book. I liked the plot more than the characters. First, our lovely writer, Henry Page. Personality wise, he’s okay at the start but ended up needy and made it all about it. I know it becomes hard when you have a crush on someone and just want to be with them but Henry seemed like he could ‘fix’ Grace. It’s like he was obsessed with her. Yet in the beginning he described her as a heroin junkie, which by far is the worst description ever. Come on Henry, you’re a writer… think better. Then there’s Murray, a walking and living Australian stereotype which annoyed me. Lola felt queer-bating because she was just there. Henry’s sister who made little sense at all. Someone who went to Yale yet was suspended and caused ructions in high school? That doesn’t make sense at all. Even Henry’s parents are too ‘chilled’ to be actual parents. They let their kids drink and stay out. The author tried too hard to make her characters different. A few would work but all of them was too overwhelming. Grace Town was realistic to me but at one time I was like ‘Come on! Just show us already!’ Yet from Henry’s perspective he’s clueless compared to the readers who would’ve figured it out by the little clues already. "Thinking of Grace Town and how, if people really were assembled from pieces of the universe, her soul was made of stardust and chaos." - page 113 I want to discuss the theme of this book but I don’t want to give away any spoilers. It was realistic and what made it better was that we saw it through a teenager’s perspective. It takes time and everyone goes through it differently, whether there’s physical or mental change… it’s something that isn’t overcome with overnight. It could take years or never to accept what’s happened, that’s why I’m happy with the ending. There’s more to Henry and Grace’s lives but that’s all we get. Unless there’s a sequel ;)"I didn't want to say anything to the kid, but I thought as we watched her, that the more he breathed her in, the sicker and sicker he'd get." - Murray, page 126I wouldn’t know how to rate this… there're some things I love while others I hate. Yet for the plot and the message it sent, I’ll give MCH a rating of three stars. A knock-off of John Green but still good.
