The 100 (DNF Review)

The 100: The 100 | Kass Morgan

Published by: Little, Brown books for Young Readers, March 18th 2014

Genre: YA, Science fiction

Pages: 323

Format: Ebook

Source: Little, Brown books for Young Readers, via Netgalley

In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.

Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again.

Everything in this book pointed towards me loving it. But ... I didn't. I might have done had 50% of the book not been whining, had there been more happening, had half the characters been interesting, but I didn't enjoy it.

Here's what I liked

Bellamy
Clarke
The premise was uber cool

Here's what I didn't:

Glass's chapters were the most pointless things I've ever read. I just wanted to know about the 100 on Earth.
The Wells/Clarke/Bellamy thing didn't interest me one bit.
Very little happened in the first 50%. They landed on Earth. That's it.
I like my books action packed and this wasn't.
Why of all places to land did they land in USA? I MEAN. This is out of hand. If they'd have landed on Africa, this book would have probably held my interest much better.


This is probably a great book for fans who love light sci fi. Or have more patience with books in general.

(No star rating since I DNF)

Heir of Fire (ARC Review)

Throne of Glass: Heir of Fire | Sarah J. Maas

Published by: Bloomsbury Childrens, September 11th 2014

Genre: YA, High Fantasy

Pages: 565

Format: Ebook

Source: Bloomsbury Childrens, via Netgalley

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. 

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

This third novel in the Throne of Glass sequence, from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, is packed with more heart-stopping action, devastating drama and swoonsome romance, and introduces some fierce new heroines to love and hate.

WARNING: This review has MAJOR spoilers for the first two books.

I have literally no idea how to begin this review. My emotions are all over the place and it's been 24 hours since I finished reading the book. I haven't been pulled apart by a book this much in a very long time. 

Okay. So, Heir of Fire starts off pretty average. There are new POV characters I didn't really want, and a new love interest for Dorian I didn't really trust. But I stuck with it, because I have massive faith in Sarah. And boy was my every hope and expectation granted, surpassed, and walked all over.

Heir of Fire is explosive, slow building, catastrophic, wonderful, lush, heartbreaking, vast, and a hundred other adjectives I could list. Sarah J. Maas is an incredible writer and storyteller. Her language is stunning, her world fascinating, and her characters - that is where my massive love of this series is. In the characters.

Every doubt I had in the first five chapters of this book was quietened by my growing love of the new characters (except Sorcha. She stayed dodgy.) I now love Manon's fierceness, her determination, and her thawing heart. I love love love Rowan. Oh, Rowan, how did you capture my heart against all odds, you grumpy, broken old man? And Aedion made me want to cry, so you know he's a winner.

But I have to say even my boundless adoration of Rowan was overshadowed by my complete amazement of Celaena. I knew this girl was strong - she's badass, an incredible fighter, and will not let anything beat her - but her journey in this book is off the charts. Her development as a person and a character is, honestly, a little unbelievable. I literally can't believe everything she had to go through, everything she's suffered, and everything she has become. To be strong enough to leave Celaena behind and become Aelin? I'm in awe.

I love this book for the world and the writing, the villains and the budding war, but Celaena made Heir of Fire a masterpiece. I also wanna thank Sarah for writing such a moving platonic relationship between Celaena and Rowan.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★★

Writing Style ★★★★☆

Betrayed (mini review)

Altered: Betrayed | Jennifer Rush

Published: August 26th 2014

Genre: YA, Thriller, Science fiction

Pages: 32

Format: Ebook

Source: Purchased

After leaving Anna, Sam, Cas, and Nick behind, Trev is on his own and under the watchful eye of the Branch once more. But where do Trev's loyalties really lie? Riley, Trev's overseer, is determined to find out. 

On Riley's command, Trev sets off on a mission to a small Wisconsin suburb. His order: locate and kill a seemingly innocent teen named Charlie. Trev soon learns, though, not everything is as it seems in this quiet town--most of all Charlie.
Find out what Trev's been up to behind the scenes in this Altered Saga original short story.

I only found out that this book was a thing yesterday at like eleven. And then I preordered it. And then I read it in an hour. And my HEART HURTS. Why must you do this to me, Rush?

Poor Trev, I just want him to be happy. I like the hopeful ending, and the promises it makes, but it was awful to see all the dislike he harbours for himself, and how he doesn't think he's deserving of forgiveness. I could easily read seven more short stories about Trev, to be honest. I want to see him get the happiness and the forgiveness he deserves.

To sum: a heartbreaking, hopeful short with Jennifer Rush's trademark heart-pounding action

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing Style ★★★★☆

Reading round up (40)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week. *rolls away from my responsibilities*

18th August

Still plodding on with my crappy mood. Read another 2% of Heir of Fire. It's laughable how little motivation I have. Also I don't want a new love interest for Dorian, why do we need one? And who are these new people? Oh, I don't care. Understanding why some people bailed.

19th August

Not feeling an Heir of Fire day, so I read 16% of Sworn to Transfer. The woods and fae (okay, kith) are making this book more interesting. Excited to see where this is going, since everyone says this book is better than the first and I haven't seen that yet. Also finished that Skylar Dorset novella. Not fussed. You can read my review here.

20th August

Currently reading: Sworn to Transfer | Terah Edun

Current page/percent: 19%

Read today: 74%

Thoughts: I'm enjoying this now!

21st August

Finished Sworn to Transfer (26% read). It was pretty decent.

22nd August

Attempted to read Maureen Johnson's The Boy In The Smoke, which I thought was a Shades of London prequel but turned out to be real life events for the most part. DNF at 35%. Went on with Heir of Fire, too (12% read), which is getting MUCH better.

23rd August

Currently reading: Heir of Fire | Sarah J. Maas

Current page/percent: 34%

Read today: 14%

Thoughts: This is taking so long to get through, and not so much because of the size but because of everything that's happening.

24th August

Currently reading: Heir of Fire | Sarah J. Maas

Current page/percent: 55%

Read today: 21%

Thoughts: UGH I knew I'd love Rowan. I wish he and Celaena would be endgame but I'm happy with their friendship if that's all it'll be.

Books finished this week: 1.5

(Ughhh.)

 

Trial By Fire | Josephine Angelini

The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma

You have no idea how happy I am. I've been wanting Trial By Fire for EVER. Merci, Macmillan! The Walls Around Us sounds pretty mysterious, like it could be good, but I found out AFTER I'd been approved that it was download only, and wasn't sent to my kindle. So, we'll see how that works out because the last two I've had that way expired before I could read them.

I'm still bugging you to donate to the campaign for printing and shipping of The Wandering. To persuade you, there are REWARDS! Donate a pound for your name in the acknowledgements. Donate £3 or more for extra cool stuff, bracelets, bookmarks, rare paperbacks etc. Help me give people more free books!!

Sworn To Transfer (Review)

Courtlight: Sworn to Transfer | Terah Edun

Published: September 17th 2013

Genre: YA, High fantasy

Pages: 255

Format: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Eighteen-year-old companion trainee Ciardis Weathervane has won the friendship of the royal heir and saved his claim to the throne. Yet her interference in the inheritance rights leaves more harm done than good. The Ameles Forest lies unprotected and its inhabitants are dying.

As humans begin to die in gruesome deaths, the Emperor dispatches the royal heir to the forests with the solution to the kith concerns. 

With enemies closing ranks in Sandrin, Ciardis can little afford to leave the city’s nest of vipers to take on a new task. But she’s given no choice when her loyalty to the crown and courts are called into question. 

To keep the Companions’ Guild happy and the favor of the Imperial Court, Ciardis will be tested in frightening new ways, especially when she’s faced with an obstacle that could risk the lives of her friends and the family she never thought she had.

This second novel continues the story of Ciardis Weathervane from Sworn To Raise.

I really enjoyed this book's predecessor Sworn to Raise: it was a pleasant surprise, a great mix of characters and action and world building, so I was excited to read its sequel. While I didn't enjoy Sworn to Transfer as much as the first book, but there was still a lot to like.

It took me a while to really get into this book, and I read very little at a time as a result. The beginning felt like it was going through the motions, it was slow paced, and confusing at points - I still don't understand what part the Duchess had to play in the overall story, but I do enjoy the drama of it all. The one thing I will say is this: not enough Sebastian. For me the first book hinged on the relationship between Ciardis and Sebastian and while we did get some moments of their friendship in the second book, I craved more.

Sworn To Transfer really picked up for me when Ciardis went into the forest. I actually preferred the kith characters to the human ones in this book, because they were so intriguing and different. I'd like to read more about those in future books. Especially Julius and Alexandra. I'm not sure what the Shadow society or whatever they were called brought to the story either, but I'm guessing they'll be important later.

All in all a great blend of fantasy, mystery, and action. Just not enough Sebastian to please me (there will never be enough of that boy to please me tbh. I love him so.) 

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing Style ★★★☆☆

Cover reveal: Vessel by Lisa. T. Cresswell #M9BFridayReveals

Vessel | Lisa. T. Cresswell

Released May 2015 by Month9Books

 Verdict: I LOVE the idea of being a vessel for information and the cover is so pretty. Definitely on my radar!

The sun exploded on On April 18, 2112 in a Class X solar storm the likes of which humankind had never seen.

They had exactly nineteen minutes to decide what to do next. 

They had nineteen minutes until a geomagnetic wave washed over the Earth, frying every electrical device created by humans, blacking out entire continents, and every satellite in their sky.

Nineteen minutes to say goodbye to the world they knew, forever, and to prepare for a new Earth, a new Sun.

Generations after solar storms  destroyed nearly all human technology on Earth, humans reverted to a middle ages-like existence, books are burned as heresy, and all knowledge of the remaining technology is kept hidden by a privileged few called the Reticents.

Alana, a disfigured slave girl, and Recks, a traveling minstrel and sometimes-thief, join forces to bring knowledge and books back to the human race. But when Alana is chosen against her will to be the Vessel, the living repository for all human knowledge, she must find the strength to be what the world needs even if it's the last thing she wants.

ABOUT LISA T. CRESSWELL:

Lisa, like most writers, began scribbling silly notes, stories, and poems at a very young age. Born in North Carolina, the South proved fertile ground to her imagination with its beautiful white sand beaches and red earth. In fifth grade, she wrote, directed and starred in a play "The Queen of the Nile" at school, despite the fact that she is decidedly un-Egyptian looking. Perhaps that's why she went on to become a real life archaeologist?

Unexpectedly transplanted to Idaho as a teenager, Lisa learned to love the desert and the wide open skies out West. This is where her interest in cultures, both ancient and living, really took root, and she became a Great Basin archaeologist. However, the itch to write never did leave for long. Her first books became the middle grade fantasy trilogy, The Storyteller Series. Her first traditionally published work, Hush Puppy, is now available from Featherweight Press.

Lisa still lives in Idaho with her family and a menagerie of furry critters that includes way too many llamas!

  

Connect with the Author:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 Giveaway open internationally

Winner will be drawn August 29, 2014

Winners will receive their book on release day

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Seven Deadly Sins Tag

Kirsty tagged by in this seven deadly sins tag post!! Thus, I ramble!! I love questions.

1. Greed – What is your most inexpensive book?
So this afternoon I got Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff in hardcover. From the pound shop. Yes. A pound. That is my bargain for the month.

2. Wrath – What author do you have a love/hate relationship with?
Leigh Bardugo. I like her books, I like her characters, I like her world, but I just?????? I've read so many reviews about book three and I can't abide how she ended it. The convenient solve of the love triangle makes me mad (girl sacrificing great power and magic to be with a boy? GIVE ME A BREAK.)

3. Gluttony – What book have you devoured over and over with no shame?
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. My love.

4. Sloth – What book have you neglected reading due to laziness?
Last month I would have said Cinder, but I did actually read that. So I'll go with The Eternity Cure. It's sat right there on my immediate-tbr-shelf and I am just overlooking it.

5. Pride – What book do you most talk about in order to sound like an intellectual reader?
I don't read intellectual books ... I actually spend most of my life making myself aware of social issues and bullshit so I try to avoid books that are serious or intellectual. Maybe I would throw out some cosmology stuff, though.

6. Lust – What attributes do you find attractive in male or female characters?
I like tall people. If you're tall and either a) super cute or b) the meanest asshole ever, I will love you.

7. Envy – What book would you most like to receive as a gift?

Right now I'd love to get Everything Leads to You by Nina Lacour, since her essay on love made me cry at least twice.

I'm tagging (as per usual)

Stasia @ StasiaLikesCakes
Jen @ Maizeandbooks

aaaaaand that's it because everyone else I'd tag has gone on holiday. 

Reading round up (39)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week. Clean blog, messy reading schedule.

11th August

Finished Cinder (102 pages read) and I LOVE IT. I also started Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater (65 pages). I missed these assholes so goddamned much. Still hating LA though.

12th August

Currently reading: Sinner | Maggie Stiefvater

Current page/percent: page 185

Read today: 120 pages

Thoughts: I don't know if I like this or not. If it weren't for Maggie's writing and being long invested in the characters, I'd have bailed by now.

13th August

Being dumb I left Sinner in my living room, so I started reading Sworn to Transfer by Terah Edun (21%). It has a dragon in it. It's pretty cool (despite the odd grammar/spelling errors)

14th August

Went on with Sinner and I really do love it but I also don't. Read 165 pages. I've finished it and I don't care about it at all? That ending was rushed and just ... ?????

15th August

Currently reading: Sworn To Transfer

Current page/percent: 39%

Read today: 18%

Thoughts: I'm finding this really hard to get into and read at my normal pace. So far not enjoying as much as book one.

16th August

Terrible day. Didn't wanna read that much so I read a quarter of The Girl Who Kissed A Lie by Skylar Dorset (30 pages). It's alright. I'm fed up.

17th August

I've totally lost all motivation. Started Heir of Fire to balance out Sworn to Transfer since I think it'll take a while to get through this. I'm in a bit of a slump after Sinner and Cinder. Read 6% and my shitty mood is slightly perking up.

Books finished this week: 3

(Ughhh.)

I lost control and spent all my money in one night.

Praefatio | Georgia McBride

Blackfin Sky | Kat Ellis

I can't even explain these. I'm not sure I'll like them. I was having a bad day - I'm a stress shopper. The girl on the cover of Praefatio looks like Emilie De Ravin.

Accession | Terah Edun

Branded | Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicki

I loved Terah's Sworn To Raise, and I've been meaning to read more of her books. This one is, I think, about modern day witches? Also people keep talking about Branded. It sounds bullshit but whatever.

Breath of Frost | Alyxandra Harvey

This is only the second of these I think I'll like. And it was on sale so... Also the cover reminds me of Caroline Forbes for come reason. Precious vampire sweet. That's mostly why I bought it.

I also got a tonne of free iBooks including Dangerous Girls (Finally caved to peer pressure) and Grave Mercy (hella) but I'm too lazy to post them all here.

I'm still bugging you to donate to the campaign for printing and shipping of The Wandering. To persuade you, there are REWARDS! Donate a pound for your name in the acknowledgements. Donate £3 or more for extra cool stuff, bracelets, bookmarks, rare paperbacks etc. Help me give people more free books!!