Review Wednesday: A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Title: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1)

Author: Claudia Gray
1st Date of Publication: November 4, 2014

ISBN: 9780062278968
# of Pages: 360

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 13+ (Language, Mild Drugs)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
Marguerite Caine's physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite's father is murdered, and the killer—her parent's handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul— escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul's guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father's death is far more sinister than she expected.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores an amazingly intricate multi-universe where fate is unavoidable, the truth elusive, and love the greatest mystery of all.


Setting: Many dimensions
Point of View: 1st person- Marguerite Caine

Goodreads Rating: 3.95

My Rating: 4.05

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: I love how it's two different worlds but they look like they're made out as a painting.
View on Title: Why a thousand? And why are they pieces? And who? These are the questions I asked myself and I had to know.

Pros:

• I really enjoyed the idea of jumping from dimension to dimension. It showed so many possibilities someone can live, but there's always a part of that person that will stay the same.
• Marguerite's character isn't your typical girl. She has super smart parents who are scientists and an older sister that is pretty much heading in the same direction. But she isn't like them, she is an artist who has a passion for pastels and a canvas. It's interesting seeing her viewpoint as an artist in a clearly scientific world.
• Marguerite is such a strong girl as she deals with the death of her father and makes it her duty to bring justice for his death as she is probably the least qualified to complete this epic task.

Cons:

• This book has a love triangle and I figured it would since it had two males that were close in age with Marguerite. But, this love triangle is bearable. I really don't care who she ends up with. I'm not a fan of either boy.

Critics' Reviews:
"This is definitely several steps above the standard romance; Avery is a voice to watch in this genre."―Booklist
"Those who are looking for something similar to Nicholas Sparks will appreciate this light romance."―School Library Journal

Claudia Gray's Website:
http://www.claudiagray.com/

Other Recommendations:

Blackbird by Anna Carey

Review Wednesday: Cress by Marissa Meyer

*DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ CINDER. THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILER. If you want to read this series, read my review about Cinder by clicking on the link: Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer


Title: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3)

Author: Marissa Meyer
1st Date of Publication: February 4, 2014

ISBN: 9780312642976
# of Pages: 550

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 13 (Death, Violence)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:

Even in the future. there are damsels in distress...

In the third installment of the Lunar chronicles, Cress, having risked everything to warn Cinder of Queen Levana's evil plan, has a slight problem. She's been imprisoned on a satellite since childhood and has only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress a great hacker. Unfortunately, she's just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress involving Cinder, Captain Thorne, Scarlet, and Wolf goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes as a high price. Meanwhile, Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

Point of View: 3rd person- Crescent "Cress" Moon Darnel, Scarlet Benoit, and Linh Cinder

Goodreads Rating: 4.48

My Rating: 4.75

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: Oooh this cover is so good! I immediately knew it was about a girl who has the retelling of Rapunzel, which is one of my favorite fairy tales,
View on Title: The script continues not to disappoint. Since Cinder was about a girl who is named Cinder and Scarlet is about a girl named Scarlet, the automatic assumption is that the girl is named Cress based on the title.

Pros:

• I liked this book even more than Scarlet, which is saying a lot since I almost never rate books as high as I did with this book.
• I love how Cress is a Lunar girl who is stuck in a satellite and pretty much hacks into computers. Who doesn't like a girl who has a way with computers? Plus, she is an excellent addition to the team since Cinder is a Lunar-cyborg-princess, Scarlet and Thorne as pilots, and Wolf as a Lunar-mutant-street fighter.
• I actually like how Cress is a little naive which shows that she is young and hasn't really had any exposure to others and real life. Plus, the whole deal with not knowing her parents and wondering who they are led to exciting but somewhat depressing discoveries.
• Cinder's character grows a little more which is obviously going to happen because the entire series truly revolves around her gaining control as the rightful heir of Luna. She finally has the proper motivation and gumption to fight for what she wants.
• Well, the next character, Princess Winter, is introduced but she seems to be insane.
• The male counterpart characters get even better as the story continues
• Emperor Kai doesn't get much development as he struggles with his decision in marrying Queen Levana and questions Cinder's motives and his feelings for her.
• Carswell Thorne is neck and neck as being my favorite male character. His character is finally more invested in as he has to depend on Cress from an enemy attack that really messes him up. I love his character development as you learn more of a "real" man as he stays patient with Cress and protects her.
• Ze'ev Kelsey, or Wolf, does not get developed as much in this installment, but that mostly because a lot of his character is based on Scarlet's presence. Scarlet is absent from the group from the same enemy attack that really hampers on Thorne's abilities and is almost nonexistent to the book, which kind of upsets me.
• Jacin Clay is introduced and I've had mixed feelings about him throughout the book. He is my least favorite male counterpart.

Cons:

• I was really confused at first with every little part involving Scarlet in this book. I felt that there should have been more involved with her. It seemed that the chapters dedicated to her were sloppy and confusing because that's pretty much the state she was in throughout the book.
• The allusion to Princess Winter seemed weird for me because, like I said before, I think she is a little crazy and caged. But, we'll see her in the next/final book.

Critics' Reviews:

“Meyer continues to show off her storytelling prowess, keeping readers engaged in a wide cast of characters while unfolding a layered plot that involves warring governments and a fast-spreading plague. The momentum Meyer built in the first two books continues to accelerate as the stakes grow higher for Cinder and her friends. The next installment cannot come fast enough.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Once again, Meyer offers up a science fiction fantasy page-turner that salutes women's intelligence and empowerment. . . . Old and new romances, unfinished story lines, and the prognostication of wartime horrors all pave the way for Meyer's much anticipated next installment, Winter, expected in 2015.” ―Booklist

Marissa Meyer's Website:
http://www.marissameyer.com/

Other Recommendations:

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

Review Wednesday: It Runs At Night by L. Danny Perez

Title: It Runs At Night (The Water Boils #1)

Author: L. Danny Perez
1st Date of Publication: March 23, 2016

ISBN: 9781523850051
# of Pages: 98

Genre: Young Adult Short Story

Age Rating: 13 

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
After her brother Federico goes missing, Lolita embarks on a lonely journey through the valleys of Mexico to find him and earn her family’s forgiveness. Deep into the valley she loses her way and soon realizes that she is not alone. As day turns into night, Lolita becomes more certain of what she must do to stay alive and find her brother. Does she have what it takes to survive the darkness?


Point of View: 1st person- Carolina "Lolita"

Goodreads Rating: 4.00

My Rating: 4.15

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The color scheme of the book is interesting and shows that the books is about a dark matter. It shows that it is the girl's fault because she has her head fallen down as if she is regretting something.
View on Title: The title made me wonder what is the "It" that runs at night. It became very intriguing and I had to know.

Pros:

• I really enjoyed the writing style of this short story. It's very similar to the way I write when I write fictional pieces. The style of the writing is engaging and makes the book easy and it seems like it goes so fast when you read it.
• I love Lolita's character. She has a strong sense of responsibility which allows her to be brave. You're able to empathize with her, especially if you (the reader) have a younger sibling. You get in her head and understand her reactions to everything a lot better.
• I enjoyed the use of Spanish in both language and culture because I have some knowledge of both and understood the Spanish words used and the events that were mentioned.
• I also thought the use of the whispering voice was interesting and mysterious, which makes me wonder who or what is that voice.

Cons:

• I wish it was longer because it felt so short, but that's also because it's a short story. I knew what I signed up for, but by the end of it, it made me beg for more.
• The only thing that really bothered me is that everyone put the blame of Federico's absence on Lolita even though she is only a child herself. This is what forces/pushes her to go and save her brother.

L. Danny Perez's Website:

http://www.ldannyperez.com/

Other Recommendations:

Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Review Wednesday: A Million Miles Away by Lara Avery

Title: A Million Miles Away

Author: Lara Avery
1st Date of Publication: July 7, 2015

ISBN: 9780316283687
# of Pages: 320

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Age Rating: 13 (Death, Lying)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
When high school senior Kelsey's identical twin sister, Michelle, dies in a car crash, Kelsey is left without her other half. The only person who doesn't know about the tragedy is Michelle's boyfriend, Peter, recently deployed to Afghanistan. But when Kelsey finally connects with Peter online, she can't bear to tell him the truth. Active duty has taken its toll, and Peter, thinking that Kelsey is Michelle, says that seeing her is the one thing keeping him alive. Caught up in the moment, Kelsey has no choice: She lets Peter believe that she is her sister.

As Kelsey keeps up the act, she crosses the line from pretend to real. Soon, Kelsey can't deny that she's falling, hard, for the one boy she shouldn't want.

Point of View: 3rd person- Kelsey Maxfield

Goodreads Rating: 3.58

My Rating: 3.65

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Title

View on the Cover: Cover didn't attract me very much since it kind of looked like a lot of chick lit sort of stuff. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was a romance story but I thought I would give it a try.
View on Title: It made me think why the title is given a hyperbole because if you travel anywhere it wouldn't be a million miles so I thought it was intriguing for this reason.

Pros:

• I haven't read many love stories with soldiers so this was a bit of fresh air, especially for the young adult world.
• I thought Michelle's death was an interesting piece of the plot because it gave a way for Kelsey to transform herself into a better person while getting a better understanding of her deceased twin, Michelle.

Cons:

• The book felt cheesy sometimes with what is said between Peter and Kelsey. I wasn't much of a fan because the book at times felt corny.
• Peter's character felt unrealistic in a way that he was too optimistic. He's in Afghanistan as a soldier and a long ways away from Michelle/Kelsey.
• Kelsey was a bit frustrating because she couldn't bring herself to tell Peter the truth and allows him to live a lie. I lost respect for her character even though she was trying to protect him.

Critics' Reviews:
"This is definitely several steps above the standard romance; Avery is a voice to watch in this genre."―Booklist
"Those who are looking for something similar to Nicholas Sparks will appreciate this light romance."―School Library Journal

Lara Avery's Website:
http://findlara.tumblr.com/

Other Recommendations:

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Review Wednesday: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

*DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ CINDER. THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILER. If you want to read this series, read my review about Cinder by clicking on the link: Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2)

Author: Marissa Meyer
1st Date of Publication: February 5, 2013

ISBN: 9780312642969
# of Pages: 452

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 13 (Death, Violence)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Setting: France and New Beijing in Futuristic Earth
Point of View: 3rd person- Scarlet Benoit and Linh Cinder

Goodreads Rating: 4.31

My Rating: 4.50

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: This cover is a little easier to figure out what fairy tale retelling this is; Little Red Riding Hood. I like how the cover still doesn't reveal a face but shows her scarlet-colored hair and her red hood running. It made me want to read the book. Why is the girl running? And, what is she running to or who is she running from?
View on Title: The script is yet again intriguing and beautiful. Since Cinder was about a girl who is named Cinder, I assumed immediately that the girl is named Scarlet based on the title.

Pros:

• I liked this book a lot more than the first, but I think that's because the Cinder had to set up a lot of information and kept you in the dark for reasons, which are eventually revealed in this book.
• Scarlet's rendition is different, but it makes the story unique. She's an ex-air force pilot/farmer's granddaughter who works for a restaurant. She desperately searches for her grandmother who has disappeared and she'll do anything to save her.
• I feel that Scarlet's character is much stronger than Cinder, but it could be that Scarlet is 18 and has more of an established identity while Cinder is 16 and figuring out who she really is.
• But not all is lost for Cinder, she begins to know more and more who she is. Unlike Scarlet's search, Cinder searches for her beginning and tries to make sense of how she became a cyborg while not remembering anything before 11 years old.
• The male counterpart characters get even better as the story continues
• Prince Kai becomes emperor in the middle of the first book. His character hasn't disappointed me yet. He is given the tough decision to marry Queen Levana because this marriage means life and death for the entire Earth.
• Carswell Thorne gets introduced at the end of Cinder when Cinder is put into jail. He is pretty cool despite being extremely flirtatious. He reminds me of the adorable guy that knows he's attractive but still can't get a girl. It makes him more lovable.
• Ze'ev Kelsey, or more commonly known as Wolf, is my favorite male character. He has a hidden secret and has to fight the power of doing what his leader tells him to do as he tries to help Scarlet in search of her Grandmére.

Cons:

• It was hard for me to nitpick this one, but I still would have appreciated the book if it was put in the first person. Again, the reason for that is the multiple main characters.
• I felt that there was not enough attention given to Emperor Kai because this series is just enough about him as it is about Cinder. I guess this could be because it is trying to focus more on the female characters rather than the male characters.
• I was a little confused about how Scarlet and Wolf get united with Cinder and Carswell Thorne. It was so sudden and disorienting between the two alternated chapters. I felt that the fight scene was the reason why the meeting became so sudden.

Critics' Reviews:

“The sci-fi elements are stronger than the fairy-tale allusions this time out, but the story remains just as absorbing. . . . Readers will be thrilled to discover that this steampunky fairy-tale/sci-fi mashup promises two more installments.” ―BCCB
“Returning fans of Meyer's Cinder will gladly sink their teeth into this ambitious, wholly satisfying sequel.” ―Publishers Weekly

“The author has stepped up the intrigue and plot from the first novel, and readers will be eagerly awaiting the next.” ―School Library Journal

Marissa Meyer's Website:
http://www.marissameyer.com/

Other Recommendations:

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

Review Wednesday: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1)

Author: Marissa Meyer
1st Date of Publication: January 3, 2012

ISBN: 9780312641894
# of Pages: 390

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 13 (Death, Bullying)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Setting: New Beijing in Futuristic Earth
Point of View: 3rd person- Linh Cinder

Goodreads Rating: 4.14

My Rating: 4.35

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: Well, I have a thing for shoes but this heel is very classy-looking (and I have a pair just like it myself). The part that really peeked my interest was the metal bones, which made me think she was a cyborg.
View on Title: The script is pretty interesting and intricate. When I think of the word cinder, I think of dirt and dust such as the cinder from a fireplace. I figured it was about a Cinderella character.

Pros:

• First off, I think the cover and title together work perfectly to show what the main character is by name and what's she is made of.
• I think the characters are very well encapsulated in this fantasy rendition when comparing it to the original fairytale. Plus, cyborgs are cool and Cinder is a mechanic, a cyborg mechanic. Instead of talking to animals like the original tale, Cinder talks to androids and machines which makes the story more unique. Plus, she's funny. She's like a guy's dream girl, or at least I would think. She is the "man" to go to, which is funny because Prince Kai originally thinks Cinder is a male.
• For Cinder's family, I have specific feelings for each one and allows the characterization of Cinder to flourish. It stays true to the fairytale in family relationships for the most part....
• I love how Cinder's younger sister, Peony, likes Cinder to show that Cinder is not completely hated, which makes her a little more likeable. Plus, Peony gave Cinder the motivation to fend for herself.
• Cinder's stepmother, Adri, and older stepsister, Pearl, despise Cinder as the original tale goes. But, wow they are really cruel.
• Prince Kai is pretty awesome from the characterization. He does not seem too judgmental and he is willing to sacrifice his life for his country. That's the kind of leader that I wish the United States had.
• I think it's interesting how it's set in China in what they call New Beijing in the Eastern Commonwealth, which adds diversity to the literature world.
• There is a lot left hanging and hinted at when it continues to talk about Princess Selene and it constantly makes you want to read to the next book. (Good thing every book for the series has been published).

Cons:

• I so wish this was in first person. I was a little upset that it wasn't, but after I read more of the series a year ago I understood the reasoning behind the third person.
• I don't think Queen Levana is a con, but she is a villain and a really good one. She is hot and tries to hide her imperfections through a power that Lunars have that is called glammer. She reminds me of Regina George from Mean Girls for some reason.
• I wish there was more characterization of Prince Kaito because he seems to be a really decent and smart guy, but there is not much to base on.

Critics' Reviews:
“First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer's brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Fairy tales are becoming all the rage, with the TV shows Once Upon a Time and Grimm spinning them through a modern filter. The 26-year-old Meyer's debut novel Cinder, though, combines a classic folk tale with hints of The Terminator and Star Wars in the first book of The Lunar Chronicles young-adult series due out Jan. 3.” ―USAToday.com
“This series opener and debut offers a high coolness factor by rewriting Cinderella as a kickass mechanic in a plague-ridden future.” ―Kirkus Reviews

Marissa Meyer's Website:
http://www.marissameyer.com/

Other Recommendations:

Splintered by A.G. Howard
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

May 2016 Update

As you have all may have noticed, I am back in action with my blog. And my, oh my, it has really flourished in the past two weeks! That's thanks to all of you as my loyal fans. I know I love doing this as a hobby and hope to do this on a more professional level, but your feedback as I watch the views skyrocket in the past couple weeks. It makes it so much more worth taking out my time to do this for all of you. Now onto what has been going on in my life which is a lot in just a month. Yes, I know my life is crazy but I would not have it any other way.

School
School has been really rough this semester, which is why I was on such a long hiatus from my blog. I managed to finish the semester with a 3.00 and survived the Semester from Hell. It has been whirlwind of stress and emotions. To say the least, I am extremely grateful that it is over and that I won't have to deal with a semester like this again. I have officially finished the semester last Thursday with my favorite final. For this final, I dressed as Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games (the book version, of course) as I presented my research that I have done over the semester. I have fear of public speaking (it's the fear that's feared the most, which is above the fear of death) if I have to stand in front of a group of people, but I fortunately felt very comfortable and excited to show what I found that has not been discovered and written about. I usually feel like an idiot when I give presentations, but the trick is to accept that you are one. I gave only little snippets of the research that I have done. My father came and filmed it so I'll post the video, but I'll warn you that I do stubble a few times. I plan to also post both the conference version, which is the one that I presented and eventually my full thesis, which is twice as long but reveals information that is just as important.

Work
Work hadn't changed that much from last month. I'm working full time plus some, but it is more than manageable now that I am out of school. I had my first day off from work and school and I thought I was going to go insane, but I used that time to read and write. I just like looking at my pay stubs and thinking of all the money I have saved over the semester, which astounds me.



Love Life 
My knight in shining armor is also doing very well. He will be traveling closer to me and he'll have a visitor very often once he moves in June. He has gotten a new job close to his new home that fits right into his finance/accounting double major, which is awesome. It's funny how we both found our niche job/hobby at the same time). His birthday is in about a week and a half and I'm excited to bake a lot of goodies for him and spend the day with him.

We continue watching our Once Upon A Time together fairly religiously. It gives us both a time to slow down and relax from our crazy busy lives.

Future Endeavors
Well, three things are happening that are immediate or close to immediate. First, my family is eagerly awaiting the birth of another baby in my family. My middle aunt who is very much like a sister to me (she's only about 15 years older than me) is having her second baby and none of us know the gender and no future name is revealed. She is past both her moved up due date (May 3rd) her original due date (May 9th) so I'm on high alert for baby watch. This baby will be almost 21 years younger than me so he or she will be like a niece or nephew to me since our age gap is so wide. I love watching my aunt's first born who is only two show her excitement. She says, "Baby out now daa-aa haw-e-al" meaning she wants the baby out now and the doctor is going to help at the hospital. She is a smart little kid and really funny, which is why it is fun watching her grow.

 

Next, I will be moving at the end of next month after my 21st birthday, which will be a nice change where I can become more independent.

Finally, I am buying a new car (that is used, of course) to replace my rusty and beat-up car, Calypso. She'll be sold for very cheap to my little brother who has his permit and will be graduating high school next month. I had my eyes on a Pontiac G6, but I'm going to look some more so that I don't rule out better possibilities.

Abstract to My Senior Thesis

Here is my abstract of my paper that I have worked on all semester. I will be posting my entire 20 page long paper, too. I just have to edit it a little bit more and copyright it because this is brand new research that has not been looked at yet.

She's the Man Coerced into Womanhood and She's the Girl Transformed by Manhood

There has been a lot of research and papers written about young adult dystopian fiction concerning gender trends of strong female protagonists. People have studied both "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent" separately in their study of challenging gender norms as feminist pieces of literature. However, very few people have studied both novels together in regards to gender. Because of this window, there has been no consideration given to the different kinds of heroines these female protagonists can be in young adult dystopian fiction. Both Katniss from "The Hunger Games" and Tris from "Divergent" combine masculine and feminine qualities through the way they dress in different ways. Both young women's thoughts can be seen through the first person narrative, but Katniss shows more reason while Tris shows more emotion. Finally, both female heroines act differently toward others and their situations in order to survive.

Author Spotlight: Marissa Meyer

Birthday: February 19, 1984 (32)
From: Tacoma, Washington
Currently Living: Tacoma, Washington
Family: Jesse Taylor (Husband), twin daughter (adopted), and 3 Cats
Education: BA in Creative Writing and Children's Literature from Pacific Lutheran University

Books:
Cinder (Buy it on Amazon)
Scarlet (Buy it on Amazon)
Cress (Buy it on Amazon)
Winter (Buy it on Amazon)
Heartless (Buy on Amazon)
Renegades (Buy on Amazon)

Other Interests:
Cats
Firefly
Dressing up
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Where to Find Her Social Media:
Personal Website- http://www.marissameyer.com/

New Release Review: The Crown by Kiera Cass

*DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE SELECTION. THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILER. If you want to read this series, read my review about The Selection by clicking on the link: Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Crown (The Selection #5)

Author: Kiera Cass
1st Date of Publication: May 3, 2016

ISBN: 9780062392176
# of Pages: 279

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Society

Age Rating: 13

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

Setting: Illea (United States) in the future
Point of View: 1st person- Eadlyn Schreave

Goodreads Rating: 4.12

My Rating: 4.25

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: Eadlyn looks absolutely stunning again. It makes me jealous that I'm not her even though that dress seems like it would be hot and heavy. She looks even more determined and knows what she wants
View on Title: It's pretty obvious. She's going to become queen and she's going to have her future husband be the prince consort.

Pros:

• I absolutely love Eadlyn in this book. She has taken such a turn around from The Heir. The cliffhanger of The Heir made the year wait for this book excruciating, but well worth it. You can really see Eadlyn's growth as she goes from a spoiled princess with a "woe is me" attitude to a responsible royal who finds empathy and sympathy for her people through her mother's health scare. She quickly realizes it's time to put up the tiara and start wearing the crown like a true royal. Eadlyn learns what it takes to be a true royal while also staying true to herself and not giving into temptation. I feel like the story had some unexpected twists and turns that really elevated the storyline.
• Her epiphany of what true love looks like was inspiring as she watched her parents together as she truly sees her parents' love and realizes that their love is selfless. She sacrificially takes her father's role leading the country as regent just so her mother can heal and her father can sleep.
• The suitors all develop nicely and so does their relationships with Eadlyn. I personally like Kile. He's the childhood friend that had a falling out but became Eadlyn's best friend. I was rooting for him. Hale is sweet but I always felt off with his character. My suspicions about him are almost spot on. Henri is also very sweet but I have a hard time seeing him with Eadlyn. Then there's Erik who is Henri's translator and not a suitor. His character development is seen more as he helps Henri, and we learn that he comes from humble beginnings.
• The twists in the book were absolutely unexpected but perfect. It kept me reading as the novel continued. It made me love all the characters and fear the same uncertainty Eadlyn feels.
• All in all, this is an excellent conclusion to the entire series.

Cons:

• The only gripe I had with Eadlyn was she made me love one character and then changes her mind.
• I was never really a fan of Marid in The Heir, and my suspicions of him were right in The Crown. Even though he seemed to be a reliable character at the beginning of the novel, I couldn't stand him in this installment.
• The issue with Ahren bothered me. It's a cruel thing to up and leaves your family home without a single word, which causes his mother to have a heart attack. This forces Eadlyn to take control and lead her country early, but I feel this was also very necessary to happen. It also seemed somewhat out of character.

Critics' Reviews:

“An engrossing tale reminiscent of Shannon Hale’s Princess Academy and Ally Condie’s Matched. Fairy-tale lovers will lose themselves in America’s alternate reality and wish that the next glamorous sequel were waiting for them.” --School Library Journal

Kiera Cass's Website:

http://www.kieracass.com/

 

Other Recommendations:
Eve by Anna Carey
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Entwined by Heather Dixon

Review Wednesday: The Heir by Kiera Cass

*DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE SELECTION. THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILER. If you want to read this series, read my review about The Selection by clicking on the link: Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Heir (The Selection #4)

Author: Kiera Cass
1st Date of Publication: May 5, 2015

ISBN: 9780062349859
# of Pages: 346

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Society

Age Rating: 13

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:
Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought.

Setting: Illea (United States) in the future
Point of View: 1st person- Eadlyn Schreave

Goodreads Rating: 3.90

My Rating: 4.05

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The dress again takes my breath away. Plus, America's daughter is absolutely gorgeous and looks like someone you don't want to mess with.
View on Title: I would have thought the heir to the Illéa would be given to the oldest male heir so this really intrigued me, especially after finding out that Eadlyn is having a selection of her own. 

Pros:

• You get a glimpse of what royalty is like. You also see The Selection when the narrator is the bachelorette and has many suitors.
• Before I talk about the main storyline and Eadlyn, we need to talk about the characters who are around from the trilogy. I really loved how you got to see all the main and supporting characters as well as some homages to others from the original trilogy. You got to see where all of the characters ended up with their roles from America and Maxon to Marlee and Aspen to May and Lucy. All the interactions that Eadlyn has with the characters from the original trilogy seemed very authentic but in a more mature manner. America and Maxon are still adorable and wonderful parents. Marlee is always sweet and lovable. Aspen is redeemable in this book, but I think that's thanks to Lucy. America and Maxon have managed to make peace in their country! Or did they?
• The suitors are a diverse group of mostly nice young men.
• You can definitely tell that Eadlyn is her parents' child. She is stubborn and strong like her mother America, but she is also very devoted and driven like her father Maxon.
• Her brothers (Ahren, Kaden, and Osten) are adorable and it makes me wish I had more brothers that I was close to if I had that many.
• This book gives you a glimpse of what it's like to be on the opposite side of The Selection than you did in the trilogy with a female lead. You get to see how men can be like when they are put in a situation where they are fighting for the hand of the future queen. I enjoyed the developing relationship between Kile and Eadlyn as they realize that the things they are most upset about are pretty much the same thing. You get to see the other suitors and how they are whether that's good or bad.
• The ending was such a heart-wrenching twist, which makes me feel uneasy because I don't know what to do with myself about it. It truly becomes a turning point for me emotionally.

Cons:

• There is very little world-building done in this novel so it is pretty much confined to the palace, unlike the original trilogy.
• The Heir definitely caught me off guard. We all knew America as this stubborn mostly-selfless protagonist who has gone through so much in her childhood. And sure, America had her heart broken prior to The Selection and had a ton of missteps because her heart wasn't completely in it, but she naturally progressed into the beloved character you see in The Heir. Her daughter is a mixed bag. Eadlyn is sometimes hard to handle because she is whiny and can be just as stubborn as her mother as she starts to feel the heavyweight of running Illea as queen soon. She wants to help her parents and her country the best she can, but her fears of getting married are very valid and seem to be a normal response to her privileged upbringing. I feel like her growth is very slow in this novel so I have a feeling her growth will be much quicker in the next/last installment. The real issue I had was that Eadlyn seemed so self-centered, but that partly has to do with the fact that she is somewhat sheltered and has a ton of comfort, which she does not want to give up. Eadlyn's attitude about doing what she doesn't like really bothers me, which shows her entitlement and that angers me.

Critics' Reviews:

“Reality T.V. meets dystopian fairy tale in Kiera Cass’s delightful debut. Charming, captivating, and filled with just the right amount of swoon!” --Kiersten White, Author of Paranormalcy
“Deliciously entertaining.” --Publishers Weekly
"Cass’s immensely readable debut novel is a less drastic Hunger Games, with elaborate fashion and trappings. The fast-paced action will have readers gasping for the upcoming sequel.” --ALA Booklist

Kiera Cass's Website:

http://www.kieracass.com/

 

Other Recommendations:
The Jewel by Amy Ewing
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Review Wednesday: The One by Kiera Cass

*DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE SELECTION. THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILER. If you want to read this series, read my review about The Selection by clicking on the link: Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The One (The Selection #3)

Author: Kiera Cass
1st Date of Publication: May 6, 2014

ISBN:  9780062059994
# of Pages: 323

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Society

Age Rating: 13

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:
The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, 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.

Setting: Illea (United States) in the future
Point of View: 1st person- America Singer

Goodreads Rating: 4.21

My Rating: 4.30

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The dress is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. Obviously, it's a wedding dress.
View on Title: I love that it's a pun. The One as in the highest caste in the social system. The second The One is in the man that America will marry and/or the woman Maxon will marry.

Pros:

• The One is my favorite book in The Selection trilogy despite knowing the main part of the ending. It was the journey that made it beautiful. It is a perfect blend of how The Selection and The Elite's structures are written. You get to see America equally with Maxon as she is without him. Her growth in the trilogy felt like it slowly sneaked upon you and into something extremely beautiful and mature.
• The ending was very satisfying but not too satisfying. It has a typical dystopian ending of a happy ending with a sense of loss and sadness. This installment truly shows the impact of love and loss. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. I felt love, grief, excitement, and fear. America's emotions are so raw and real, but she handles them in a much more refined and regal manner unlike how she acted in the previous two books.
• I love America's character so much more in this book than in The Elite. She knows what she wants and isn't playing around when it comes to love and even diplomacy.
• I continue to fall in love with Maxon's character as he develops more thoroughly. He truly stays to be the character he always was.
• I thought it was neat how the rebels became incorporated more into the novel and how essential they were in order for America and Maxon to really work together as a possible royal couple.
• You'll realize that the characters you thought you didn't like are not really as bad as they seem. They are struggling as well and are reacting to the only way they are used to reacting. I thought that the way Celeste's character is developed more and you come to really realize her character.

Cons:

• I absolutely abhor King Clarkson. I think he is very scummy. He treats America so poorly even though she could very well be his daughter-in-law.
• Aspen's character frustrated me so much. He should not be pushing America to do something she does not want to do.
• The ending seemed a little excessive (you'll understand once you read it), but I feel like it was a necessary part of the novel.

Critics' Reviews:

“A real page-turner. Romance, royalty, and revolution in a reality-show format serve Cass’ boldly rendered heroine well in her quest for justice and love.” —ALA Booklist

"Who will become the future queen of Illea and Prince Maxon's wife? The final book in Cass's "Selection" series begins in the midst of a rebel attack on the palace. The heroine, America, is one of four remaining ladies competing in the selection process in this dystopian saga. Through bravery and a strong character, America has won the people's hearts. However, the king continues doing everything in his power to undermine her opportunities to succeed. While the contestants are competing for Maxon's heart, many other events from the outside world transpire: America's father dies and leaves her a letter, she is shot visiting rebels outside the city, the relationship between Aspen and America shifts, and the Southern rebels begin attacking people in the castles. All the while, the protagonist continues to fall deeply in love with Maxon even though he is involved with her competition. Fans of this series will not be disappointed by the ending. Major plotlines are tied up, and questions left unanswered in the previous installment are resolved here. The star-crossed duo's relationship has its many ups and downs, but their love for each other remains. For general purchase in libraries where the earlier books remain popular and for devotees of beauty pageants, dystopians, and drama-filled romances." —Seattle Public Library, WA

Kiera Cass's Website:

http://www.kieracass.com/

 

Other Recommendations:
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Author Spotlight: Kiera Cass

Birthday: May 1981 (35)
From: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Currently Living: Christiansburg, Virginia
Family: Husband (Callaway Cass), Son, and Daughter
Education: BS in History from Radford University

Books:
The Selection (Buy it on Amazon)
The Elite (Buy it on Amazon)
The One (Buy it on Amazon)
The Heir (Buy it on Amazon)
The Crown (Buy it on Amazon)
The Siren (Buy it on Amazon)

Other Interests:
Being married. Cake. The smell of Autumn. Motherhood. Books. Elephants. Back rubs. On demand movies. Actually going out to movies. Faith. Cinnamon rolls. My family. Butterflies. When my kitchen is clean. Crayons. Pink. Tote bags. Dancing. Organizing via color coordination. That my wedding dress was tea length, not floor. Baking. My house. Writing utensils. Paper. India. The sound of water. Making videos. Buttons. The word Episcopalian. Making people laugh. Layering clothes. British accents. Pinterest. Animation. Fireworks. The smell of the Ocean. My wedding rings. Aprons. Reasons to get dressed up. Sex. Pop music. Stars. Taking walks. Daydreaming. Stickers. School Spirit. My friends. Living in a small town. Japan. Singing. Painting my toenails. Pranks/ practical jokes. Painting. Stretch canvas. Costumes. Dipping my fingers in melted wax. Style. Soda. Spending an hour typing at a coffee shop. Musicals. Back to school season. Mopeds. Good hair days. Naps. Not walking up but looking at a beautiful staircase. Driving alone. My ankles. Playlists. Spending entire days in pajamas. Holidays. Telling stories. Spontaneity. Theme parks. Bookshelves. The word copacetic. Boxes. Empty journals. Surprises. Doing things in groups. Doing things alone. Getting real mail. Decorating. Small forks. A good hug. Gift cards. New Years Goals. Going out to dinner. When someone else remembers some great story about me/us that I’ve forgotten. Toy stores. Fireplaces. Breakfast foods. Journaling. Crying for a good reason. Doorbells. Pointless adventures. Voting. My birthday. Reasons to make wishes. Recycling.
Where to Find Her Social Media:
Personal Website- http://www.kieracass.com/