Book Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Goodreads Synopsis: The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love.”

With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.

The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu. Tahereh Mafi has created a captivating and original story that combines the best of dystopian and paranormal, and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and satisfying end.

Hands down to Tahereh Mafi! I really love her writing style. Her metaphors are just so unique. Her words just hits me you know.

~ SPOILERS ~

One of the things that I really love when reading books is watching the characters grow. Juliette has been living in fear and holding her powers back because she's afraid of hurting any one. But now, Juliette is ready to fight back. She's done being afraid. She's ready to get revenge. She's also determined to lead the country. She's so done with the Reestablishment. Go Juliette!!

The love triangle in the Shatter Me series is probably my favorite love triangle ever. Even though I knew that it was never going to work between Adam and Juliette I still hoped it would work. Mainly because Adam's a nice guy but Juliette can't possibly be with Adam. There's always a catch when she's with him.  Adam is really protective but sometimes his protectiveness can be really restraining. I can't blame him for being what he is around Juliette because he waited for a long time to be with her but Juliette doesn't need someone like Adam. She needs someone that would help her embrace who she is and be strong. Someone like Warner. I always knew there was something good in Warner. I always knew that there was a reason why he is what is. Warner encourages Juliette to be strong and to use her powers to her advantage. I loved how Warner believed in Juliette so much. He's always truly passionate with every thing he does. The people around him just misunderstands him a lot. I think Juliette and Warner saved each other. They needed each other. They needed someone who could make them stronger and believe in their selves.

And oh my god okay Chapters 55-58!! Juliette and Warner's moments together!!! It's so freaking sweet and hot. I cried and squealed because what they said to each other in those pages are just the right words and it's perfect. TEAM WARNER!!! Thank you Tahereh Mafi!!! Hehe

And I loved Kenji and Juliette's friendship! It's just great that they have each other to confide in. Kenji is just so funny and I love it when Kenji makes Juliette laugh even if they're talking about serious things. (Kenji's character was inspired by one of Tahereh's brothers!!!!)

The message that I got from the series is that to not be afraid if you're different and that nobody is perfect.

I loved the Shatter Me series! I highly recommend it! I'm looking forward to Tahereh's future works! :)

- Alex

Book Review: The One by Kiera Cass

Goodreads Synopsis: The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

Finally! The conclusion to the Selection Series! AHHHH I love how the series ended. This last book is my favorite one from the series!!! It's perfect I just can't!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE ONE BUT IT'S OK IF YOU LIKE READING SPOILERS  BEFORE READING A BOOK

I understand why it was difficult for America to choose between Aspen and Maxon. Aspen is her first love and Maxon is the gorgeous prince (hehe) but as the competition progresses we see her falling out of love for Aspen. Things are complicated between Maxon and America. Maxon wants to be fair to every one so she makes sure he spends time with each one of the girls. This makes America kind of jealous and confused. It's a competition and she knows how much each of the other girls want Maxon and the crown. America loves Maxon but she's afraid to say it because she doesn't know if Maxon feels the same way because he keeps spending time with the other girls and doing things with them. And I just...sskdjsajdba

I just get frustrated every time Maxon and America almost says i love you to each other but holds back and I'm like get your shit together guys. And they do. I'm so incredibly happy because they're happy and ever body's happy. America will always love Aspen. Aspen is like family to America now. And they'll forever care for each other.

The attacks of the rebels are getting more and more intense. There's actually a difference between the Southern and Northern rebels. The Southern rebels are the violent ones and the Northern rebels want the caste system removed but they have never killed anyone and they want to support Maxon because they know Maxon has potential to set every thing right.

Unlike the other girls, America seems to be the normal girl but she possesses great qualities. She's brave. She stands up for what is right. Even if it almost caused her removal in the competition and the further dislike of the king towards her. I love her so so much.

There may be tragic things that happened towards the end that I didn't expect and I'm sad because of that but I'm also very very happy because Maxon and America are finally together. They deserve to be together after the things (both good and bad) that they went through.

Thank you Kiera Cass for the Selection Series! It was a great journey!

- Alex

Book Review: Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

 

Goodreads Synopis: What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most?

Julie Murphy’s SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality.

“I knew how to die. It was the living that scared me.” - Alice

Side Effects May Vary is told in two different points of view and also in two scenarios (then and now). I found this a bit confusing but I managed.

At first I hesitated to read this book because I'm kind of tired of books with characters doing the bucket list thing but I decided to give it a try. I read it as an ebook. I ended up loving it. I fell in love with the way it was written. It was simple. Simple but beautiful.

I know some readers think that Alice's character is hard to like. She's stubborn and some would say "bitchy." I will leave it to you to find out why is that (if you decide to read it) It was interesting to read about a stubborn lead character because most of the books I've read deals with not so bitchy girls haha (if you know what I mean) Alice may be emotionally wrecked but she was still able to gather the strength to overcome the challenges in her life. I mean, she is informed that she has leukemia then she does the things she wants to do before she dies (written in "the list") then after all that she goes into remission...AHHH

Okay now, Harvey. I instantly loved him! He's the kind of guy who would do anything for the girl he loves. I kind of pity Harvey because he goes through a lot of effort to show Alice that he loves her but Alice is afraid to admit her feelings for him.


This is a book full of emotion and sass *cough* Alice *cough* Definitely worth the read!

- Alex

Cover Reveal: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

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? 

Goodreads

Amazon

B&N

 About the author: 

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.  

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Follow Jennifer!

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The cover of Origin (the fourth book in the LUX series) is finally here! It's gorgeous!  I'm so excited for the release on the 27th of August under Entangled Teen! What do you think of the cover? 

- Alex

Book Review: This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

 

Goodreads Synopsis: If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

'There are different kinds of happy,' she said. 'Some kinds don't need any proof.' 

This Is What Happy Looks Like is the second book I've read written by Jennifer E. Smith. The first one was The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight. Jennifer writes really good stories about fate and destiny. The first thing that had drawn me to read this book was the cover because it's gorgeous. The first thing I thought about when I read the synopsis was Starstruck (the Disney movie starring Sterling Knight where he plays a famous pop star and falls in love with an ordinary girl who is not an obsessive fan of him)

This book made me want to visit Maine. (I first read about Maine in The Probability of Miracle by Wendy Wunder) I can see Ellie's house in my head and it's like the perfect summer house. I liked the fact that she works at an ice cream shop and that her mother runs a souvenir shop. I was picturing the souvenir shops at Seal Beach in California. Oh and I love the name Ellie!! When I was in high school I made a list of happy things so this book made me remember that. Here are some of the things I included in my list: Good music, A nice read, Balloons, The Beach and Thrift shopping.

I love reading stories like this. It's a really simple summer romance story that will leave a smile on your face. Definitely worth the read.


- Alex x

Book Review: Opal (Lux Series, #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

Goodreads Synopsis: No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

The Lux Series goes straight to my favorites. It has an amazing storyline. The well-developed characters makes it even more fun to read.

It was a bit hard for me to write this review because I really didn't know how to put my feelings for this book into words other than that it was AMAZING! Many have said that it has less action but it didn't ruin the book for me. Daemon and Katy took their relationship to the next level *wink wink* I'm happy to read more of Daemon's sweet side. There may be a lot of problems that is sometimes keeping them apart but when they're together it all fades away and it always seems that they're the only people in the world. Daemon is protective and sensitive more than ever. Dawson is back but he is not in the state that his siblings expected. Blake is also back and he has an offer that will put the Luxens and Katy at risk. Opal made me love Katy even more because she has shown her bravery and she has proven that she is not just a weak human that everybody needs to protect. I had a lot of fun reading Opal and I can't wait for Origin (Lux Series, #4)

And yup I also thought I was missing pages after that devastating cliffhanger. All I did was freak out. I couldn't stop from freaking out. It was so brilliant I can't even ahhhh!! The promise of a 4th book is the only thing keeping me alive right now.. Hahaha. Just kidding. No.. seriously. Thank you Jennifer for the Lux Series!!

- Alex

Book Review: Onyx (Lux Series, #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

Goodreads Synopsis: Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies...

Onyx is even better than Obsidian! And as usual I couldn't stop turning the page for more. There is more Daemon which I love.

Daemon and Katy are now connected because of a major thing that happened in Obsidian. Katy keeps denying what Daemon feels for her. She assumes that what Daemon feels is just because of the connection. But Daemon will not give up until he proves that what he feels for her is real. It's really adorable when he tries to be sweet. On the outside he's a real tough guy but there's this soft side of his that I adore so much.

There's a new character (Blake) that will be the reason for Daemon's jealousy and also the reason for most of the tension that is building up between them. In some parts, I'm screaming at Katy in my head telling her to trust Daemon. There's a part of her that wants to really trust him but she also doesn't want to be told what to do. And I think that that's what makes here a badass character. She wants to prove that she is not just a weak human and she will really prove that in Onyx. There will also be a character that will be dead by the end of Onyx (it's for you to find out if you decide to start reading Obsidian) There will be stuff that Daemon will do and say that will sweep you off your feet! It is a perfect 2nd book to the Lux series! Swoon-worthy! It was another thrill ride!

- Alex

Book Review: Obsidian (Lux Series, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

I am back from California! I've had this blog for a while now and I promised myself that I will update it when I have free time. And now I have all time I need to write my first serious book review. Yay! So please don't judge me :(

Goodreads Synopsis: Starting over sucks. When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.

I am very happy that I was finally able to find this book. I was supposed to order it on Amazon but it was out of stock so I just ordered Onyx and Opal first (the 2nd and 3rd book of the Lux series) 

This is my first time to read a paranormal romance themed booked that involves aliens so it was a thrill ride reading this book. Obsidian is amazing. I love the cover, I love how intense Daemon's gaze is. And it truly is not your typical boy meets girl story. (not when the guy is a freaking alien) I love Katy! Like if she's real it would be pretty cool to be her friend. I think that she's really down to earth. She didn't freak out much when Daemon confessed that he was not human.I think maybe that was the effect of her reading "too much" books (but really, you can never read too much) I also love Katy's humor and her tough girl attitude and the fact that she will do anything to keep her friends safe. Now Daemon might have his ego getting in the way sometimes but he is still perfect. He will do anything for Dee (his sister) And we all love a fictional character that is always to the rescue, don't we? I also love the parts where Daemon and Katy have heated conversations. I like how Katy handles Daemon. And I think that she's just really being careful not to get her heart broken. I really love this book and I doubt that I'll forget about this storyline. It's never too late to start a new series!

Recently, I discovered the names of the cover models. Pepe Toth (Daemon) and Sztella Tziotziosz (Katy) They are actually a real couple and I instantly became obsessed with them (Haha) As we speek, I am google-ing pictures of them. Pepe and Sztella if you ever see this.. I'm not a stalker (Hahaha) They are so adorable and they are the sweetest couple ever. I have just watched the book trailer for Obsidian and no wonder they have a perfect chemistry. Here's an interview with them that I found at Jennifer's blog: Meet Pepe and Sztella

They're so gorgeous right? Yup.. I know.

P.S. I do not own any of the photos or videos above. They all belong to their respective owners.

- Alex