Quintana of Charyn (Lumatere Chronicles #3) - Melina Marchetta

Review: Quintana of Charyn
Author: Melina Marchetta
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Fantasy
Recommend To: fans of the Seven Realms, A Game of Thrones

This series has been a true roller-coaster. It was going up and down, upside down, and the end was nearly impossible to see. Over the course of this book, dozens and dozens of characters were introduced, and their stories were so entwined that it was almost impossible for the book to have any sort of happy ending. 

I first met the majority of characters in Finnikin of the Rock, and it was impossible not to love all of them and just want them all to be happy. When I learned that there would be a sequel I was thrilled. When I learned it was told from the point of Froi I was a little put out, but by the end the book completely changed my mind. I NEEDED to get hold of Quintana of Charyn. I had fallen in love with a completely new set of characters and it looked like they were being pitted against each other. 

It was stressful. 

Honestly, it looked as if they would all end up killing each other, or never finding their true loves and it was just awful. But Melina Marchetta is some kind of fantasy book goddess and managed to wrap it up. When books say they're satisfying they're usually wrong, but this one was deep, complex, confusing, at times humorous, at other times (the majority of the book actually) heartbreaking, and very very satisfying. 

The countries of Charyn and Lumatere will forever be making repairs after the years of struggle they went through, and there will always be problems with neighboring countries, but I loved these broken lands with a passion fueled by the inhabitants. Each inhabitant had a story (usually a painful terrible story) and they created the overall story of their nation. 

The story wasn't always pretty, it showcased some ugly sides of human nature, it addressed mature topics such as rape and genocide. It forced you to put every inch of your soul into the book and care so much that you thought you would self-implode at times. And that's what makes it one of the best series I've read.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1) - Douglas Adams

Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Author: Douglas Adams
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Science-fiction
Recommend To: fans of Insignia, Across the Universe and fans of Science and Hitchhiking

So I found out that I was supposed to have read this book in Middle School or something. Apparently it's something all people know they're supposed to read. And now I know why.

This book makes no sense. But it does. It's about this: Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Trillian, a highway bypass, another highway bypass, some Vogons, the End of the Earth, a book, a babelfish, a supercomputer, some mice, some terrible poetry, some dolphins, and probability.

It isn't super character focused, it's more plot focused. But then again, the plot jumps from revelation to revelation. There isn't really a single aspect that is emphasized. It's all weird, but good weird. There is lots of alien stuff and space stuff. Rocket ships and super computers plus weird alien species. It's not uber complicated so everyone can understand it....or not understand it. I challenge someone to come forward and claim that they know the exact point to this book. And don't tell me 42!

It's very strange. But it's also very hilarious in a twisted sort of way. Many ironies that just pile up make it dark, but funny at the same time.

If you don't like very pure, unadulterated science-fiction, this book probably isn't your best choice. But to the rest of the sane world, read this and it will undoubtedly make you insane. It is, after all, a wholly remarkable book. 

Finally, I would suggest reading it anyway so you can understand the weird references people make to it in the world. The Number 42, "So long, and thanks for all the fish." etc, etc. It's worth it just for that reason alone, you can finally understand that crazy person always mumbling obscure references to this book.

Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss #1) - Stephanie Perkins

Review: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Romance

Recommend To: fans of Pushing the Limits, the Fault in Our Stars

This is the cutest chick-lit romance I have read in a long forever. With a name like Anna and the French Kiss, I was a little hesitant, but I have to say this book will blow your mind away with the adorable romantic tension. It isn't deep, or emotional. There isn't much other than pure, lovable romance. If you want a light read, this is your book. It went by very quickly because I was so engaged in the tale.

Anna is a cute protagonist. (Everything about this book was cute if you haven't noticed). She's big into movies, and like any normal teen, she has trouble adjusting to her new life. She becomes friends with the gorgeous Etienne and like any normal girl, falls head over heels. Obviously, (to the reader at least), he falls right back. It seems like the story should just wrap up, but there are a ridiculous amount of misunderstandings and romantic stress that follows as the two try to figure out that the other is indeed reciprocating their love. And the reader gets very swept up in it as well.

Etienne stressed me out the entire time. At parts I hated him for not just dumping his stupid girlfriend and getting with Anna. It was the classic "does he love me? or not? why doesn't he let me know?" It was heaps of tension and confusion. 

But the thing I admired most was, even though Anna knew she had feelings for Etienne, she was his friend first. The moments between them were touching and perfect and occasionally hilarious. She cared so much for him and he in return cared for her; they both got to know each other as friends. The side characters were also easy to like, although they still took a heavy backseat at times. Etienne's girlfriend was so much fun to hate, even though we barely knew her. 

It was definitely one of the sweetest stories and I envision a fantastic future for Anna and Etienne. It was impossible not to fall madly in love with Anna and Etienne in Paris. It was sweet and captivating and it goes down as one of my favorites.

The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) - Alexandra Bracken

Review: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Rating: 5/5
Genre: dystopia
Recommend To: fans of Partials 

This was a fantastic example of how much dystopia has to offer. It was action, fear, and chaos personified. It's about Ruby, a girl who survives the worst plague ever and emerges with new supernatural abilities. Her parents, instead of hiding her, call the authorities and have her dragged away to a horrible rehabilitation camp. She suffers there for 6 years, before finally breaking out and being tossed into the changed world. 

This book was really character based; Ruby, Liam, Chubs, Zu, and the Slip Kid were all really major players and you either fell in total love or complete hate. It was hard not to. Ruby was a good main character, she had a lot to learn about the outside world and had some haunting experiences, but I admired her will to push on. She had a lot of secrets and rarely gave away everything at once, you learn her story in frightening pieces. Liam wasn't as interesting to me as the Slip Kid, he was the golden boy and he was sweet and kind. However, my favorite characters were the side characters, Chubs and Zu. Zu because she's the most adorable little girl you'll meet, and Chubs because he was so determined but broken. The Slip Kid....no comment....you decide. 

The most terrifying thing was definitely the degree of horror the United States had descended into. Ruby's "rehabilitation camp" was horrible enough to give anyone nightmares. It was like a concentration camp except packed with children. The worst thing was how the adults were so absent or completely evil. There was no one to turn to, the kids had to learn how to protect themselves or die. In a world where even your parents can abandon you....there isn't much hope. It was grim and full of suffering. (Also, the ending was far from okay. I was howling in pain, it is a terrible cliff-hangery, suspenseful ending.)

Okay, so want to hear something weird? As scary as the setting was....the dialogue was hilarious. Chubs and Liam's bickering made me laugh out loud at points. There were some light-hearted parts and some deep, emotional parts. It was all balanced. The action was intense, the setting was frightening, the characters were intricate, the emotions were rampant. The dystopia factor was turned way up. I care a lot about what happened to these people. And so I wait, for the next book.

Enclave (Razorland #1) - Ann Aguirre

Review: Enclave
Author: Ann Aguirre
Rating: 4/5
Genre: horror, dystopia
Recommend To: fans of Partials & Blood Red Road

Enclave is the story of Deuce, a girl who lives underground after a plague/apocalypse/thing happened aboveground and destroyed the world years ago. She lives in the Enclave, a place where people are sorted into Breeders, Builders, and Hunters. She aspires to become a Huntress and protect her people from the Freaks, former people or zombie things that eat other people. It was all very intense and action packed.

The biggest issue I came up with this book was the pace at which it happened. Action-packed is good....things happening in choppy instants is bad. I wasn't able to absorb some aspects. Example: Deuce was supposed to love Stone and Thimble, she was supposed to care about her Enclave so intensely she wanted to be a Huntress...but I didn't really feel much of that. The only time Deuce met someone worth protecting was Girl26. Deuce became a Huntress, fought Freaks, got kicked out, and messed about Topside. That's about it. It just flashed by too quickly. It could have been better paced, and less sporadic. It was too choppy. 

However, Deuce was one of the physically strongest female protagonists that has narrated. She can fight like nobody's business. Mentally, she isn't independent yet, she depends too much on the Enclave, but eventually she begins to form her own mind, and fights the haze of ignorance. That's one thing I liked about the book, Deuce wasn't too knowledgable, she can barely read, but it focused on a lot on her personal growth. Fade too was pretty cute, but I didn't really feel like I got to know him, mostly because the book went by too quickly. He's a good fighter, mysterious, but sensitive; that's about all I know. 

The relationship between Deuce and Fade was too quick. I realized that they were partners for weeks and became accustomed to each other. They learned about each other, and then fell in love. But it felt like only a few pages later that Deuce was falling for him. And then Stalker came in the picture. It was too fast and yet nearly nothing happened. I'm contradicting myself, but I can't express it. It felt like a wave; coming slowly but visibly, then crashing on shore, then receding. Deuce meets Fade....begins to fall in love....BAM Stalker comes in and Fade pulls out. And Stalker....*shudders.*

But anyway, the romance wasn't even supposed to be the pure focus. It's meant to be Deuce's personal journey as she realizes the false lies she's lived her whole life. The action was incredible and they ran into Freaks tons of times, and yes the Freaks are creepy, but no they didn't terrify me (sorry). Most of the book is well done, and hopefully the second book will continue with Deuce's growing understanding and will also slow down a bit.