Library Book Haul (May 22, 2014)

Sorry for neglecting my blogger, I've been so busy with exams and tumblr. But anyway, I went to the library today and got all these. I heard tons about them all and so here I go! I'll start posting all the reviews I've written in 2014 too. 

• Curtsies and Conspiracies - Gail Carriger
• The Coldest Girl In Coldtown - Holly Black
• Out of the Easy - Ruta Sepetys
• The Impossible Knife of Memory - Laurie Halse Anderson
• Never Fade - Alexandra Bracken
• Panic - Lauren Oliver
• All Our Yesterdays - Cristin Terrill
• Of Poseidon - Anna Banks
• Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour - Morgan Matson
• Palace of Spies - Sarah Zettel
• The Winner’s Curse - Marie Rutkoski

Champion (Legend #3) - Marie Lu

Review: Champion
Series: Legend (#3)
Author: Marie Lu
Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Dystopia

Hell. Wow. That is how you end a series. I'm an utter mess. But it was so worth it. 

So basically, there was never a dull moment. After Prodigy, I was already half done but after reading Champion, I was dead. The plot had so much. War, politics, romance, disease, air raids, bombs, making love (oh yes), etc. It continued Prodigy with the story of June as she struggles to be Anden's Princeps-Elect and advise him to best run the country; and of course Day, who has to come to terms with his illness and what he believes he can give the Republic. 

I mean just wow. I always loved June and Day, but after this I realized how much they meant to me. June was so strong and brave, the steady one with a glossy outer covering, but filled with internal turmoil. And Day. Oh god, Day. Constantly giving and helping. Arrogant and cocky on the outside, but so unsure on the inside. Just no. The characters were flawed and perfect. Their story a thousand times more so.

The setting was incredible too - the ruined Republic of America, the Colonies, and most of all the little glimpse we get of the world outside North America. The way the world has progressed is so interesting, and very vivid. Dystopia is often made up of a post-apocalyptic world churned out of a blender. But with Legend I felt like there was a lot of thought that was put into building the world. Even the propaganda was interesting. it was the little details like the names of the slum sectors that really built the story.

I don't really know what to say, other than this book is a bundle of action and emotion. Everything about this book made me think of how the clock is always ticking, and how if we're not careful we can lose so much time. It made me think about what was important, and how easily we can lose those things. It was really flawless, but it hurt so much too. The dual-POV is frustrating and wonderful, and I just wanted to take each of the characters I loved and take them away someplace safe. It was action packed, full of politics and intrigue, jammed with emotions being frayed at every possible moment, and wrapped the series with an exquisitely painful, gorgeous ending.

Currently Reading - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) - Sarah J. Maas

Review: Crown of Midnight
Series: Throne of Glass (#2)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: fantasy

AHAHAHAHA *maniacal laughter* I am in love with this book. SO MUCH IN LOVE. I mean Throne of Glass was great but this shattered everything into pieces and left me with my jaw hanging open. And there are still four more books. 

So much happened but I can sense how much more is coming. It's all centered on an extraordinary storm named Celaena Sardothien. Also known as, Adarlan's Assassin who will kick your butt and look gorgeous while doing it. It's been a while since I've enjoyed reading a female character so much. Many main characters come off as very irritating and while Celaena is very vain, she's hilarious and downright scary. At first, I was confused. Why was this silly, pretentious, pretty girl named Adarlan's Assassin? She doesn't do anything but read, buy clothing and preen. But oh my god, she can kick butt. In this book, she becomes a force of nature.

Everything was fast, fever pitched, and incredible. The original structure of Throne of Glass was pretty good fantasy, lots of magic, crumbling kingdoms, etc. Nothing extraordinarily special, but still good. This kicked everything to the side and slammed the door open on some really unbelievable fantasy. There were some obvious plot twists, but there was a lot of other interesting stuff that I did not expect. Everything balanced really well, and it was just so gripping.

One of the good things about this book is that the romance is not necessary - but it sure makes it more fun to read. There is a minor love triangle, but there is also a part where Celaena blows everybody off, and just goes and does her own thing. Like "I AM A STRONG INDEPENDENT FEMALE WHO LIKES TO SHOP AND MURDER PEOPLE. FEAR ME AND LET ME EAT CHOCOLATE CAKE IN PEACE." Literally the greatest thing. Yeah Chaol is sexy and beautiful, and Dorian gets pretty interesting too. But Celaena takes center stage, and we begin to learn about her mysterious past *hint, hint.*

So now we have amazing characters, a fast fantasy plot, sexy romance, and what am I missing?...an interesting villainous group! Theres Baba Yellowlegs, the King, and a whole host of other interesting, twisted people. Even Celaena herself walks the line pretty closely. The whole thing is getting bigger and bigger, and there are a lot of new elements involved. Plus, Maas is not afraid to kill people, and have a lot of action occurring. So much happens, but she doesn't skip a beat. 

I found myself holding on for dear life for most of the book, and I may have fallen out of my seat at various intervals. It's by far one of the best upcoming YA series, and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment. I suggest you read it soon, and enjoy the rush. 

If I Stay (If I Stay #1) - Gayle Forman

Review: If I Stay
Series: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Rating: ★★★★
Genre: contemporary

This was a very sad book. Hopes get crushed and the fleeting nature of life really smacks you in the face. I didn't bawl, but this book really makes you tear up and feel very heavy. 

Mia, a regular girl who loves music, has a boyfriend, and has an adorable doting family, finds her life changed in mere seconds. The real struggle arises when she finds herself staring at the aftermath, and is forced to decide whether she wants to stay in this life, or join her family in death. 

It's definitely deep stuff and maybe that's why I wanted a little bit more. To me, the book seemed almost short and curt. There were a vast number of things explored, but it felt too short to me. I also felt very distanced from all other characters except Mia. We basically learn about her life as she ruminates back upon it. Flashbacks and memories are most of what we get, not much actual plot in the book. 

Also, a major portion of the book is supposed to be her relationship with Adam, but it felt too disconnected - probably because Mia was having an out-of-body experience and was also very isolated. But in general, the flashbacks didn't give me enough to really feel like I knew why Mia would stay. I fell in love with her parents and little brother, but Adam surprisingly enough took me a little while to really get a feel on. The nature of their tentative relationship took me a while to understand. 

However, it was an interesting book, and held my full attention. It made me ponder things about my own life, and it makes you feel really thankful for what you've got. (Also, by this point, I have read the sequel and it is actually much better. Far less disconnected and their relationship is really explored.) So if you are in the mood for a sad, heart-wrenching book, I really suggest this one, and then the sequel. It's very pretty and thoughtful, and it doesn't take much time to read.

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) - Leigh Bardugo

Review: Siege and Storm
Series: The Grisha (#2)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: fantasy

*frantically hyperventilates* That was flipping awesome. A slow build up to one of the most chaotic, deadly climaxes I've ever read. Tension, romance and most of all power. I love the darkness in these books. The desperation and madness written in these books is disturbing and unbelievable. 

This book was sexy. Honestly, I was falling very deeply in love with it as I read. The YA genre is packed with sweet girls who find out they're magical, resist it, do random stuff and end up saving the world. Yay. Big whoop. No, no, NO. The Grisha is brilliantly different. Alina finds out she has immense power, and she takes it. No hesitation, or silliness in this - she grabs the power and begins to use it. Of course there are consequences, and she is beginning to change, but it's freaking awesome. The madness and spiraling descent into moral ambiguity is breathtaking. I feel like it's a roller coaster ride.

The characters are all immensely flawed, and impossible not to love. The Darkling, who captured every heart and ripped it to shreds; Mal, who bored me at first but is now becoming interesting with his intensity and need for freedom; and the newest person, Nikolai, who I am madly in love with as well. He's hilarious, and arrogant, and really cute. Actually, all the boys are total heartbreakers. But the real star of the show is still Alina, who is slowly going power-mad. She is commanding, arresting, powerful, passionate, afraid, dramatic, and has darkness filling her. 

The plot structure is also burning and intense. There's the preparation for the Darkling, the slow gain of power, the hallucinations, the politics in the castle, etc. They all start to build the story up, and form this crescendo which suddenly explodes in a flurry of violence and destruction. The sacrifice, the evil, and oh my god, the end. The last line gave me shivers. It's was one of the best books I've read since Crown of Midnight; the fantasy is fast, furious, and original. The characters have depth and the villain is horrifyingly attractive and evil. It was impossible to put down, and I want to read it all over again.

Crewel (Crewel World #1) - Gennifer Albin

Review: Crewel
Series: Crewel World
Author: Gennifer Albin
Rating: 2/5
Genre: Dystopia, fantasy

It sounded great. It looked great. I opened it, but it was not great. It was boring, and confusing. Dull. Slow-paced. Absolutely nothing happened until the end, but by then I had lost interest anyway.

Basically, Crewel is about a girl who lived in a world where women are oppressed. The only way to gain even a semblance of power in this world of men is to become an elite spinster, and to weave the very fabric of creation. Or something. It was horribly muddled, and it was difficult to understand whether it was science-fiction or fantasy. I didn't understand much of what the weaving did, only basic facts. Things were tried to be explained, sorta, but by the end, it was still a vague concept in my head. For example, at one point she manages to weave a passageway? It was really odd, and I couldn't get a clear picture of what the author was trying to convey.

The rest of the world-building was good - the politics, and social problems were interesting and well explained. But there was no action. None. It was just intrigue and mystery that accounted for nothing. The characters were dull and flat, and I barely remember any of them. Adelice was not likable, the love "triangle" was predictable and banal, and even the love interests did not get me excited about the story. I felt no connection, even when the backstory was introduced. 

Basically, it was not executed properly even if the idea was intriguing. The story became flat, and the characters were thinner than paper. Even the villains weren't evil enough. I'll continue reading the story because the end was mediocrely better, (cliffhangers are usually good), but there will need to be vast improvements in the style, character development, and pacing.