Book Review #69: Opposition (Lux #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Opposition (Lux #5)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 533
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Format: Paperback
Date Published: August 05, 2014
Publishing House: Entangled Teen
GoodReads Rating: 4.44
Personal Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can’t believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

My Personal Thoughts

Holy holy holy fudge! Reading the fifth and final installment gave me separation anxiety! I want to know what will happen to Daemon and Katy but at the same time, I was not ready to let go of them and the rest of the crew. No! I can’t! I will surely miss the hottest alien ever. The ending is not that bad, I liked the way it ended. Just the way I wanted it to conclude. Things went pretty fine for the couple although I felt sorry for Katy and with everyone that she lost along the way. The crew has been amazing and awesome as always! I just hate the way Dee acted out during the first couple of chapters and her attitude was annoying! Daemon, on the other hand, has always been cheesy and romantic and I almost died, again, because of his swoon-worthy characteristics! Gosh! Katy should have her hair trimmed or tied because it’s so freaking loooonggggg! Like really long! Even though she annoyed me most of the time for being a stubborn brat, I envied the way Daemon unconditionally loves her. It was a really nice ending, not much of an action-packed ending but things went out just right and everyone was happy. Thank you JLA for creating a wonderful alien crew. I love all the characters despite Katy ‘s pain in the ass traits. I am looking forward to reading the novella. I just hope that there was a novella dedicated for their wedding. Nonetheless, everything ended smoothly and just fine. The alternating narration between Katy and Daemon is one of my favorites. The story was fast-paced. I was also able to read it in 2 days. I don’t have any rant about the finale, I was just hoping that it wasn’t that horrible for Katy. I don’t know, maybe it should have ended in a different way, or not? Anyway, I highly recommend this series to people who likes to read young adult science fiction in a contemporary setting where the main character is a hot male alien who loves dearly and sincerely! 💜

~JaNnA

Book review #68: The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3)
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages: 320
Genre: Young Adult, Mythology, Fantasy
Format: Paperback
Date Published: May 05, 2007
Publishing House: Puffin Books
GoodReads Rating: 4.33
Personal Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

IT’S NOT EVERYDAY YOU FIND YOURSELF IN COMBAT WITH A HALF-LION, HALF-HUMAN.

But when you’re the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster.

Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive…

My Personal Thoughts

Percy! I enjoyed reading the 3rd book because Percy has always been innocent and stubborn. His feelings for his friends is always on top. He is always there ready to save them. This series is a must-read for young readers especially those who are just starting to become a full-pledged bookworm! I highly recommend this book though I’ve only finished the first three books, there is just something about this story that caught my interest. The gods and goddesses are so appealing; introducing them made the reading experience spectacular and informative and fun fun fun! While enjoying Percy and friends’ rollercoaster ride towards accomplishing certain goals, a reader also gets to learn a lot. It is very refreshing and even though I am already 29 y/o, I feel younger. The setting has always been cool because despite having monsters and other entities, the story is still modern-ish because of the USA setting. The characters are all easy to like and love especially Grover who is always on the go and bubbly. There are some annoying characters like Clarisse and Luke as well but they are tolerable. The writing style is impressive because I wasn’t bored. I was able to finish it in a day which makes it highly entertaining. Yes, I recommend this book for readers of all ages. It deserves a 4/5 rating because overall, it is one of the best mythology series.

~JaNnA

Book Review #67: October is the Coldest Month by Christoffer Carlsson

Title: October is the Coldest Month
Author: Christoffer Carlsson
Pages: 192
Genre: Young Adult, Crime, Mystery
Format: Paperback (ARC)
Date Published: June 08, 2017
Publishing House: Scribe Publications
GoodReads Rating: 3.3
Personal Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

Vega Gillberg is 16 years old when the police come knocking on the door looking for her older brother, Jakob.

Vega hasn’t heard from him in days, but she has to find him before the police do. Jakob was involved in a terrible crime. What no one knows is that Vega was there, too.

In the rural Swedish community where the Gillbergs live, life is tough, the people are even tougher, and old feuds never die. As Vega sets out to find her brother, she must survive a series of threatening encounters in a deadly landscape. As if that wasn’t enough, she’s dealing with the longing she feels for a boy that she has sworn to forget, and the mixed-up feelings she has for her brother’s best friend.

During a damp, raw week in October, the door to the adult world swings open, and Vega realises that once she has crossed the threshold there is no turning back.

My Personal Thoughts

The story is short but it was able to send me the message that it wants to convey. I was cringing the whole time! It was a mixture of crime, sex, and everything in between. I love how simply it was written without omitting the meaning of the book. The setting it an old suburb where it is possible that murdered people can be shoved and forgotten in an instant. The character is young but not innocent! I feel sad for Vega because at a very young age she felt and experienced all those terrible things. The need for sex, being an accessory to a crime and falling in love with someone who treated you like shit. Everything will still go back to basic, LOVE. It was because of love that Vega followed his brother, it was love that their uncle Dan got involved with Diana, it was love that Diana did everything for her son Tom, it was love that Tom did what has to be done, and it was love that Vega was able to do stupid and wreckless things for Tom. 198 pages and yet a lot of things took place. I have nothing against that there was no solution about the crime, it just shows how realistic this book is! Not all crimes were being solved in reality and the people involved just have to live with it for the rest of their miserable lives. I like this book! It is fast-paced and a fast-read. The twist is predictable but I just love how perfect it went. The ending is not a cliff hanger although it went nowhere, it’s not amazing for some readers but I like it. It’s just one of those moments in live where there’s no closure, things happen and that’s it. Just bear with it and live with it. I dont like Vega, the character is twisted and pathetic and not a good influence for young readers. It may be a YA story but I find it suitable for mature readers. I’ll giving it a 4/5 for being realistic.

~JaNnA

 

Book Review #66: Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Origin (Lux #4)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 418
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Format: Digital Copy
Date Published: August 27, 2013
Publishing House: Entangled
GoodReads Rating: 4.44
Personal Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

My Personal Thoughts

Wow! Finally! My long wait was over! Daemon Black never ceases to bring me butterflies in the stomach, ugh! I just can’t! Honestly, I still don’t like the flow of the story (it’s just going nowhere), just like with the 3rd book, but the OTP (one true pair) is just so awesome and perfect for each other. I can’t count the number of times I swoon and screamed because they just make a real great pair. The setting is getting weirder and weirder as well now because they are on the run, away from their enemies and they spent most of their time in the DOD’s (Daedalus) camp where they were held prisoners and experiments were being done. Katy is always so annoying just like in the previous books but I love how she made good choices here in the 4th installment. Daemon’s determination and perseverance is just admirable because he could have run away and never looked back but he just can’t because Katy is all that matters. This is highly entertaining and funny. Very light and cute and the characters were able to maintain their bubbliness despite all difficulties. The sad part is the betrayal of a family member, I was caught off guard and did not realise that he was a threat. Anyway, the crew is getting smaller and it saddens me because in the 5th book an all out war is screaming and I don’t know how they will be able to withstand it. Dee and Katy’s friendship was restored and it made me giddy because BFFs will always rule. Hoes over Bros like what they say. I am not yet ready for this to end. Four out five. ^_^

~JaNnA

Book Review #65: My Name is Victoria by Lucy Worsley

Title: My Name is Victoria
Author: Lucy Worsley
Pages: 372
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Format: Paperback (Advance Reader Copy)
Date Published: March 09, 2017
Publishing House: Bloomsbury Publishing
GoodReads Rating: 3.87
Personal Rating: 5/5

Synopsis

‘You are my sister now,’ Victoria said, quietly and solemnly. ‘Never forget it. I love you like a sister, and you are my only friend in all the world.’ Miss V. Conroy is good at keeping secrets. She likes to sit as quiet as a mouse, neat and discreet. But when her father sends her to Kensington Palace to become the companion to Princess Victoria, Miss V soon finds that she can no longer remain in the shadows. Miss V’s father has devised a strict set of rules for the young princess, which he calls the Kensington System. It governs her behaviour and keeps her locked away from the world. He says it is for the princess’s safety, but Victoria herself is convinced that it is to keep her lonely and unhappy. Torn between loyalty to her father and her growing friendship with the wilful and passionate Victoria, Miss V has a decision to make: to continue in silence or to speak out. By turns thrilling, dramatic and touching, this is the story of Queen Victoria’s childhood as you’ve never heard it before.

My Personal Thoughts

This book is epic, classy, and very informative. I just love how the author made it look like a cute young adult story but the truth is it talks about history and royalty. The two main characters are both easy to like and understand. One bratty, cute, and moody princess named Victoria which is actually the late Queen Victoria when she was young and careless. And the other girl is Miss V (who also happens to be named Victoria as well), the daughter of the princess’ comptroller. I like the girls’ friendship because it is so pure and innocent, no drama and everything. Miss V is so selfless and devoted to the princess which is what I admired about her the most. The story obviously took place in England where the royal family resides and it is just so awesome to be able to travel back in time and revisit the past thru a modern-ish story like this. The author is a historian and she did a great and awesome job with this novel. It is so entertaining and fun! I like every scene and chapter. I did not get bored. I was able to finish the story in two days and there is just something about it that you won’t be able to set it aside. The antagonist on the other hand who is Miss V’s father, Sir John Conroy, is a manipulator and a total control freak. He symbolizes the image of men ages ago who manipulates women and who constantly wants to be on top and with power. I feel sorry for Princess Victoria’s mother, the Duchess, because Sir John used her to his advantage. Miss V’s mother is also a victim of the man’s greediness. The story is an eye opener, it will make a reader realise what life was a couple of decades ago. How money and wealth rules and how powerless princes and princesses are when choosing who to marry. Overall the story is screaming perfection. I like the first person narration and the small and simple images drawn every chapter. It is a very cute book, the cover is breathtaking and an auto-buy! Thank you, Bloomsbury, for sending me a copy to review and promote. Highly recommended for readers of all ages. Bravo, Miss Worsley, this was incredibly written. 😊

Book Review #64: Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber

Title: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Pages: 401
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Format: Paperback (Advance Reader Copy)
Date Published: January 31, 2017
Publishing House: Hachette Australia
GoodReads Rating: 4.0
Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Remember, it’s only a game…

Synopsis

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.

My Personal Thoughts

I would like to thank the generous publicity department of Hachette Children’s Books, for sending me an advance reader copy (ages ago) in exchange for an honest and fair review. You still send me books despite being behind with my reviews. Moving on, this book is quite intriguing and mysterious! When I read the synopsis last year, I was already so eager to have my own copy. Surprisingly, the abovementioned publishing company sent me an ARC even though I did not request for one (again, thank you!). The cover of this book is screaming awesomeness and class! I think the UK version is also very gorgeous and hardbound-worthy. The book’s cover is merely enough for a bookworm to grab a physical copy of this novel.

First, the story’s setting is so commendable! It is well-described and the island is perfect for the caraval’s set up. I just love how the story and the setting matched! The island is so mysterious and creepy. It will make you cringe! Every scenario will have you clueless and in deep awe. There’s just something so magical about the place that even as a reader I was mesmerised (or rather should I say, hypnotised?). Second, the characters are so-so. Sorry if you are a huge fan of this novel but Scarlett just annoys the hell out of me. It would have been better if Donatella (Scarlett’s sister) was the one who portrayed her character. She is so scared, needy, and stupid, and I wanted to strangle her personally multiple times. Donatella, on the other hand, is the fierce one, the badass one, the loveable one! It’s too bad that her role just made few appearances and the story revolved around Scarlet. The leading man, Julian, lacks the swoon-worthy factor. He is adorable and handsome, but no, sorry, it’s not enough. He is full of shit and lies, and crap. In the end, I don’t even know who Julian is, or if he is also lying with me (and with the readers). It’s just so frustrating and confusing when a character lies and deceives repeatedly. Legend, the mysterious game master, is an asshat. I don’t know! I just couldn’t say anything positive about the characters. And lastly, the governor (Scarlett and Donatella’s father) is a freaking moron. I couldn’t even stomach all the things that he did. WOW! This story is just so full of crappy characters, I can’t believe it. Third, the writing style is just not for me. I don’t have a thing or patience with slow-paced stories. I fell asleep twice last night while reading. Maybe I lost interest the moment everything got so mixed up. The scenes, the characters, it’s just full of mysteries and deception; and in the end, I was left confused, hanging, and questioning my own comprehending capability. Am I stupid to understand or get a hang of it or it’s just too lousy and boring? Don’t get me wrong, the magic and all are so amazing and electrifying! I will give it credit for that! It is so magical and one heck of a rollercoaster ride, it’s like being in Alice in Wonderland. I love how it made me feel but there are just some things that made it really messy. Lastly, the story undeniably contains a lot of life and love lessons to think about. I am impressed! There are plenty of memorable lines and quotes that are heart-warming and inspirational. Will I still read the next book? Of course! Even though here I am ranting like crazy, I still want to know what will happen next especially with that CLIFF-HANGER (rolling my eyes right now). I still want to find out who Legend is, where their mother is, and what will happen to their lives. I am still interested, and YES I do recommend this book if you want to read and devour on something new and intriguing. I’ll give it three and a half out of five stars for making me want to continue ‘til next book.

~JaNnA

Book Review #63: Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas

“Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will always love you.”

SYNOPSIS

KINGDOMS WILL COLLIDE.

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what—and who—to sacrifice if she’s to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Ugh! First and foremost, it is so damn hard to draft a review about the 5th book of the Throne of Glass series because: 1) It is GOOD!, and, 2) It is so freaking GOOD. PERIOD. whew! I was literally left speechless, pulseless, and breathless (LMAO!) after finishing this AMAZING story! Everything that I ever wished and hoped for was there! Like ALL OF THEM! The “one true pair” (OTP) that I have been shipping since 2 or 3 books ago definitely nailed it this time! (Believe me when I say that they NAILED it. *rolling my eyes so damn hard*) I can’t ask for anything more! The characters are increasing in number (beginning to look like a crew now!^_^) and it is so refreshing to come across some new kick ass roles and dive into their worlds. I just hope (like what I have always hoped for since the beginning!) that it was in the first person narration so I could understand them more deeply. But I am not complaining, though! Never! The writing style has always been superb, SJM (Sarah J. Maas) always see to it that readers will get hooked. Although I honestly find the books’ thickness and number of pages challenging. I was not able to finish it right away because it is so overwhelming! I guess I was able to read the book for 3 or 4 days given the number of times that I have to close it for a while because the scenes are too intense and creepy! Oh, dear! I am definitely fangirling right now! Celaena’s badass attitude and arrogance were never a problem for me, unlike with the other readers and reviews that I read, I honestly think that it made the story more entertaining and fun! The LGBT issue that some reviewers mentioned saying SJM is fixated with flawless characters or the author was not writing in a multicultural way, well, I disagree! SJM obviously made her book LGBT friendly and it is also multicultural so I don’t get the fact that others are whining about the characters (I can’t get into details because I might spoil you, sorry!). They are obviously from different parts of the world. Lastly, there were rants about the book being somewhat similar to ACOMAF (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2). I kind of agree with that, just because (SPOILER ALERT) Rhysand and Feyre also got married in the 2nd installment of the ACOTAR series and Aelin and Rowan did the same thing here. Maybe that’s the only similarity and people should not make a big fuss out of it. The world building has always been fabulous and commendable, the author really did a very spectacular job with that. The action scenes are all gripping and mind-boggling and that’s exactly what I want! Perfect! I loved each and every part of this book, and it’s just frustrating that Chaol was just mentioned 3 or 4 times all throughout the book. But all these “ships” are lovely! There’s plenty of love stories here and I am just so crazy about it!I looooove and ship them all!  Yay! It is highly recommended, ofcourse, especially for matured fantasy readers. Five million amazing stars! 💖

~JaNnA