New Release Review: Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Title: Renegades (Renegades #1)

Author: Marissa Meyer
1st Date of Publication: November 7, 2017

ISBN: 9781250044662
# of Pages: 552

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 13+

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.


Setting: Gatlon City in the future
Point of View: 3rd person- Nova "Nightmare/Insomnia" Jean Artino and Adrian "Sketch/Sentinel" Everhart

Goodreads Rating: 4.10

My Rating: 4.50

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The cover is beautiful. Both characters seem to be contemplating the cost of their actions and feel the weight of their city on their shoulders. They may be on opposite sides but the feelings are mutual.
View on Title: Who are the Renegades? Are they good or bad?

Pros:

• The alternating female-to-male point of view is very captivating. It gives more of a feel of what both sides feel about the other and why they act and scheme the way they do. It makes the point that there is no true black and white when it comes to justice. Maybe all the fighting is all for nothing if both sides are not willing to try to see the others' perspectives.
• Nova is known as "Nightmare" to the Anarchists, and the Anarchists have raised her after her family's tragic death. She blames the Renegades from not protecting her family and her mission is to annihilate them, so she has closure. Her identity isn't known, so it is only up to her to go incognito as a Renegade under the name "Insomnia" where she tries to find out all their secrets and their weaknesses. She is powerful, resourceful, and could put anyone asleep with a touch. But, will her time with the Renegades show a new light to why they act a certain way?
• Adrian can sketch, which is the reason for his superhero name "Sketch," like no one ever could, and his drawings even come to life if he wants them to. After Nightmare tries to kill his father, he makes it his own personal mission to find out who she is and why she is acting against the Renegades. He creates his own suit, tattoos himself, and goes under the name "Sentinel" as he gives himself more abilities and fighting Nightmare. How far will he go before he is caught?
• There is a romance in this which makes the stakes even higher and even more exciting. But, you only get a glimpse into this installment.
• This novel does explore LBGT as  Adrian is adopting by couple Hugh "Captain Chromium" Everhart and Simon "Dread Warden" Westwood when Adrian's mother "Lady Indomitable" (Unknown Name [Currently]) died in battle when he was very young. You get a good glimpse of their life together with Adrian. But, I am wondering if we will find out Adrian's mother's real identity.
• This novel is extremely action-packed. Even though a couple of the fights are a couple chapters long, you're really kept at the end of your seating waiting for what's to happen next.

Cons:

• The cliff hanger at the end was a little disappointing. The book went from such a high intense point and basically died immediately after ending with a mediocre cliff hanger for the next book to pick up from.

Marissa Meyer's Website:

http://www.marissameyer.com/

Other Recommendations:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

New Release Review: Where the Past Begins: A Writer's Memoir by Amy Tan

Title: Where the Past Begins: A Writer's Memoir

Author: Amy Tan
1st Date of Publication: October 17, 2017

ISBN: 9780062319296
# of Pages: 368

Genre: Memoir

Age Rating: 13

 

Book Description:
In Where the Past Begins, bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club and The Valley of Amazement Amy Tan is at her most intimate in revealing the truths and inspirations that underlie her extraordinary fiction. By delving into vivid memories of her traumatic childhood, confessions of self-doubt in her journals, and heartbreaking letters to and from her mother, she gives evidence to all that made it both unlikely and inevitable that she would become a writer. Through spontaneous storytelling, she shows how a fluid fictional state of mind unleashed near-forgotten memories that became the emotional nucleus of her novels.

Tan explores shocking truths uncovered by family memorabilia—the real reason behind an IQ test she took at age six, why her parents lied about their education, mysteries surrounding her maternal grandmother—and, for the first time publicly, writes about her complex relationship with her father, who died when she was fifteen. Supplied with candor and characteristic humor, Where the Past Begins takes readers into the idiosyncratic workings of her writer’s mind, a journey that explores memory, imagination, and truth, with fiction serving as both her divining rod and link to meaning.




Setting: Primarily California
Point of View: 1st person- Amy Tan

Goodreads Rating: 3.55

My Rating: 4.50

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: It's pretty clear that this book is about Amy Tan because her name consumes most of the cover.
View on Title: It seems kind of interesting. Where does one's past begin? Ourselves? Our parents? Grandparents? It's hard to define the line.

Pros:

• This novel is very different from her other books (because it is a memoir rather than fiction), but this novel has similar writing aspects to her fictional pieces.
• The book has a structure but a different kind of structure than all her other books. This novel is more fluid in the way that it goes from one idea to the next. Amy Tan makes reading this novel feel like it is like you're in a really nice dream and you're going for the ride.
• The writing reminds me of concocting a chemistry experiment because this book is part journal, part diary, and part genealogy. The reader gets to be in the mind of Amy Tan as she writes with less restraint as she discovers more of her past and better understands both her life and family.
• The way the parts are organized are creative and unexpected. Instead of titling for family or herself, she titles them with what people encourage others to do.
• It's really interesting because you get a glimpse of how her characters in her books relate to people in her life, such as Amy Tan's mother as June's mother in The Joy Luck Club.
• This memoir gives the reader an idea of what  Asian American culture is like in some aspects because not every Asian American family is the same, especially in different generations. Academics and music become emphasized on perfection and nothing short of it because Asian parents want only the best for their children through achievement.

Cons:

• There is very little that I disliked about this book. The only thing I wish Amy Tan explored more is her relationships with her brothers, particularly her younger one. Her older brother is written a little more than her younger brother.

Critics' Reviews:
“Any book by best-selling Tan is cause for excitement, and this surprising and gripping memoir will be zealously promoted and discussed.” -Booklist

Amy Tan's Website:
http://www.amytan.net/

Other Recommendations:

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
On Writing: Memoir of Craft by Stephen King
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

New Release Review: The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine

Title: The Wish Granter (Ravenspire #2)

Author: C.J. Redwine
1st Date of Publication: February 14, 2017

ISBN: 9780062360274
# of Pages: 432

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 13+

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
An epic, romantic, and action-packed fantasy inspired by the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, about a bastard princess who must take on an evil fae to save her brother’s soul, from C. J. Redwine, the New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow Queen. Perfect for fans of Graceling and the Lunar Chronicles.

The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of Súndraille’s king. Their mother was murdered. The royal family died mysteriously. And now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly overrun with violence he can’t stop.

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess. And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter named Alistair Teague who tricked Thad into wishing away both the safety of his people and his soul in exchange for the crown.

So Ari recruits the help of Thad’s enigmatic new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, to teach her how to fight Teague. With secret ties to Teague’s criminal empire, Sebastian might just hold the key to discovering Alistair’s weaknesses, saving Ari’s brother—and herself.

But Teague is ruthless and more than ready to destroy anyone who dares stand in his way—and now he has his sights set on the princess. And if Ari can’t outwit him, she’ll lose Sebastian, her brother…and her soul.

Setting: Fictional world of several kingdoms
Point of View: 3rd person- Arianna Glavan, Sebastian Vaughn, Alistair Teague

Goodreads Rating: 4.11

My Rating: 4.25

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: It looks like a quilt where there is magic involved through the circular motion as if the wind is blowing it.
View on Title: Who is the Wish Granter? Does he or she truly grant wishes or is there more to it?

Pros:

• This book is a stand-alone despite being in the same world as the previous book.
• I really like that you get to see more of the world that you saw from the first book, The Shadow Queen.
• You get to see the main characters, Lorelai and Kol, from the previous book in a short scene of this book.
• The characters I thought were also very well-developed.
• Princess Arianna is a very bold character and is relentless in what she thinks is right. She never loses her servant attitude even though she literally went from rags to riches, which is the same for her brother, Thadeus.
• Sebastian is a heartthrob and he is good with weapons. He is the perfect hero who struggles with his past and tries not to become what he is predisposed to in his early life.
• Teague is so cutthroat and manipulative. He's basically a mob boss, except that he's the only mob boss in the entire kingdom. He's willing to go at any lengths to gain the ultimate power. His character is how I really see Rumpelstiltskin. 

Cons:

• The only thing I did not particularly like was how rushed the end felt, which I felt the same with The Shadow Queen. I understand that the situation was dire and last minute, but it felt like Sebastian and Ari went from nothing to "we have to do this now."

Critics' Reviews:
“Satisfying fare for fantasy fans.” -Kirkus Reviews
“A welcome feminist revision of the classic fairy tale.” -School Library Journal

C.J. Redwine's Website:
http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/

Other Recommendations:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

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

New Release Review: The White Rose by Amy Ewing

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

Title: The White Rose (The Lone City #2)

Author: Amy Ewing

1st Date of Publication: October 6, 2015

ISBN: 9780062235817

# of Pages: 320

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian

Age Rating: 15+ (Language, Violence)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.

Setting: Various Locations in Lone City (Fictional)

Point of View: 1st Person- Violet Lasting

Goodreads Rating: 4.05

My Rating: 4

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover

View on the Cover: I love how the cover Violet looks stronger and more stubborn than she did in the first cover. The way her dress is arranged looks like a white rose.

View on the Title: Since the first book ended up being place, I assumed this was the same case but I won’t reveal that information until you read this.

Pros:

• I thought this book was so much better than the first book.
• Violet’s character becomes developed a lot more as she is able to escape the Jewel and finds out what and who she wants to fight for.
• Ash’s character is also developed more and he becomes more lovable.
• There is a huge emphasis on family, which is seen through Ash and Violet. All their actions are based on how their families will be treated.
• I also love Garnet’s character. When he was first introduced in the first novel, I was not a big fan of him since he was disrespectful in all his encounters with the characters. All his disrespectfulness is put into perspective in this one as his character continues to develop.

Cons:

• I felt that Raven’s character was not developed enough in this book. I understand that most of it she is mentally damaged but once it got to a certain point in the novel Raven’s character.
• The people in charge of getting Violet out agitated me a bit because they try to get her to understand her Auguries while she tries to find her purpose but the continue to treat her as if she is incapable.

Critics' Reviews:

“This fast-paced plot and a surprise twist will make readers anxious for the next series entry. A must-read for fans of the previous title; they will not be disappointed.” -School Library Journal

Amy Ewing's Website:

www.amyewingbooks.com

Other Recommendations:

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Eve by Anna Carey

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Delirium by Lauren Oliver