Review Ignite Me

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Available Now

Book Three (Final) in Shatter Me Trilogy

Bookologist Analysis: This book was the epitome of licking flames on top of the shelves.

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, beTstselling 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

This book was a stunning conclusion with the minor flaws that each writer falls into. The book had the necessary things to make it a peaceful and accepted conclusion. The character changes in the book were sudden and violent.  I felt  it could have been able to be tweaked just a bit more.

Juliette in this book at a snap of fingers threw down the walls. She decides this after a conversation with Warner. She decided enough was enough and she wanted to be a leader.  I didn’t think it was realistic that she was able to turn herself from a timid shy little girl to this badass no nonsense girl in that short of a time period. Overall I like the new Juliette more because now she was out of her shell and used her powers to the fullest extent.

 Adam on the other hand just changed. I mean I used to think that he had actual feelings for Juliette, but then he just went total berserkos. He became violent and uncaring toward his friends and Juliette. Even though I was never a fan of Team Adam I never thought he would become so violent by breaking things over Juliette. A word of advice- never get into an argument with him. He likes protecting innocent quiet girls. He’s not ready for someone who speaks their mind.

Warner on the other hand in this book changes in a way that leans toward the positive side. He keeps on saying that he doesn’t want someone who thinks of him as a pity project or something to fix. I personally think Juliette still wants him to see the light she subtly guides him towards; she want hims to see it as a self-realized goal. She wants him to develop (not fix or repair) into someone who is more forgiving and lenient. In this book you really do seem him try to take the higher road and not kill someone at whim. He controls his outrages easier and starts to show emotion in public. He doesn’t kill Kenji for not agreeing with him for example. I like the newer Warner as he pushes Juliette to be a person without the shell and wall she made herself. Warner or should I say Aaron’s development was much more realistic and better for him overall than all the other ones.

I have to say I love the smaller characters in this book. Kenji was just the best friend you would want. A guy who has your back and stands up to even his dude best friend about you and won’t take crap about Juliette. He also has a sort of attitude that makes him be painfully (and hilariously) honest with Juliette. He tells her what he thinks no matter what it is and that makes him the conscience that Juliette need. Even if it means dissing Adam or telling her that Warner might break his heart. Kenji is the definite comic relief. James is such an innocent child that tries so hard to be mature. It is heartbreaking that he has to spend his childhood around so much fighting. James now is terribly honest on what he thinks of Warner or Juliette right to their faces. He will tell Warner that he thinks he is scary or Juliette that his brother is worried sick about her. He is the innocence in a world full of violence and terror. Castle draws back in this book and doesn’t really say much which is disappointing since of the important leader role he had in Unravel Me (I still think he should be a woman). The other ones that survived were just hard to keep up with overall which is kind of sad.

There are certain parts of this book however that I didn’t like so much. The romance in this book was dragged on a little too much. You could feel her decision already made (I was happy about that one), but still you had to play with her emotions that have been tangled up since Juliette got out of the asylum. I mean all the fights and all the little scenes were they really necessary? (No) I also didn’t like the lack of world building. I wanted to know more about the Reestablishment and who they really wanted to be.  I would have also liked a map to see the different sectors. The world could have described in how it worked better than it was. Tahereh also left out the plot twists she is so famous for. The plan went a little too easy considering the amount of protection and difficulties should’ve been. I thought the plot could’ve have been more dramatic and planned out with more turns such as a spy or hitch in plan (shakes head).

Overall I felt the book lived up to the praise. It was a good and filling conclusion to the end of the Shatter Me trilogy though I still feel Unravel Me was by far the best book in the series. This book showed the true character put under stress. People turned evil and true friends were shown. Remember the best way to learn if a person is a good person is to put them under stress. I mean Tahereh Mafi proved in this book under stress she is an okay writer.

Room by Book is feature done by yours truly where I put together collages of rooms/furniture that fit the book. All pictures' credits are down below.

Barcelona Stool by Ludwig Mles van der Rohe

Coral Bell by Sherwin-Williams

Eastvold Class Coffee Table by 2modern

Vintage Moroccan Battani Striped Rug by canvas

Ignite Me (book cover) by Tahereh Mafi

New & Update

Hey guys,

I have some exciting news and an update.

So some of you might have noticed that I don't have a rating system. I don't use them because I feel like you can't put a book into one number. Most blogs I follow don't. I though t I might start referencing them from time to time now to give you guys an idea on what I think of the book.

Some of you might have notice that Friday was Valentine's Day. For all of you Grisha/Shadow and Bone lovers- Malentine's Day. Anyways, it was Make War Not Love Day cause the Ruin and Rising cover and teasers came out. Some of you might have already seen them, but some of you haven't so... HERE!

As you can see there is the Firebird flying, will Alina get the third amplifier? Will she beat the Darkling?  I hope she doesn't because she will end up with him (that might be biased). The fire makes this one red, quite different from Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm. The towers as usual are still there. The fire means war.

Sounds Malish when he becomes estranged with Alina.

As Mal looses Alina to power or the Darkling, these two quotes sound like they are from the same conversation.

Definitely part of a conversation, there will be one between the Darkling and Mal; I see this! mwaahaha

*We also learn the Darkling first name and more world building stuff.

*Ruin and Rising will not be the last book set in Ravka!

Can't wait for the actual book it comes out June 17th! 

Review Evertrue

Evertrue by Brodi Ashton

Available Now

Book Three (Last Book) in Everbound Trilogy

Bookologist Analysis: This book made me just want to stab the book all the way to the Everneath and back.

Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself... which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon — or die.

Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally — but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him — and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?


In this stunning conclusion to the Everneath trilogy, Brodi Ashton evokes the resiliency of the human spirit and the indomitable power of true love.

This book was so maddening. It caused me to want to scream more decibels than the human hear are able to handle. It was just a chess game that went on forever with no real closing (don't you love my analogies?).

The second book Everbound hadn't fallen into the sequel slumper status, but the third book was a problem. Jack isn't someone you want to have in the books; I mean he is slow, stupid, and a jock. What is wrong with Nikki? She wants to destroy the Everneath not realizing what it does to people and just why does she still have the mental and emotional facilities of a seven year old.

About I get to my negatives later, so here are the positive-

1) Family- Nikki finally comes up to the duty of her family to support them, in a good way. She makes up to them and puts an effort to become a part of their lives. I enjoyed watching her father and brother come to terms with the new her. I can't say though that it is really a bad idea to make them so clueless, that hey maybe something is going on with my sister/daughter ( don't you think someone might have noticed?)

2) Setting- I know this might be kind of late, but I just realized that this book is set in Park City, Utah (a shout out to any Olympians from there). I honestly had to do some Wikipedia searching on this city to finally learn about it. It has about 8,000 people, so I guess it is a large enough size not everybody knows everybody, but in the book it feel so much bigger. I like how the setting feels like an actual place you could visit and normal people could live. 

That is about all I can say I enjoyed. I felt that the book was just dragging on forever. I could have just read the last couple of pages to get the gist of it. This love triangle just dragging on till the last ten pages and it made me upset. I hate bad end of trilogies more than sequel slumpers because so far the author delivers then boom they just a drop a piece of terribly bad disappointing writing on you. 

I never really did understand Nikki. She was given such a good chance at life had so much and then decides to screw with it by going on with Jack and Cole. Jack I never liked because he was  just a big old jock that never understood that he could make Nikki that much stronger. This book he became threatening and reckless. Cole however saw the strength she could offer as  the Queen, but no she hates the idea of being a reckoning.  Cole even with memory loss showed his love toward Nikki. The plot however was just running around looking for stuff to help them bring down the Everneath, all the action was concentrated too much at the end with no real twists in betrayal and it was a bit too easy.

This book was something that just ruined the series. I was a Team Cole and I can deal with losing the love triangle teams, but  I can't handle killing so many people without stories or a chance that maybe they will kill a story. The slow plot with such a drastic changes. This book is vital if you have read the first two books of the Everneath trilogy, but don't be surprised if you don't like the hype or any real conclusion. 

__________

Hey,
If you at all routinely read this blog or just found it; I would love if you emailed, commented, and subscribed.

Amelia

Rise Of The Arcane Fire Blog Tour: Review, Favorite Quotes & Giveaway

Yeah! This is my first blog tour so this is really exciting and all. There is going to be a review, favorite quotes, and even a GIVEAWAY (at the bottom)! This is all about Rise of the Arcane Fire by Kristen Bailey. It is the second book in the Secret Order (the first book was the Legend of the Clockwork which I adored). Click HERE for more of the tour. Thank you Kristen Bailey for the eARC from Edelweiss. 

Rise of the Arcane Fire by Kristen Bailey 

February 4, 2014

Book 2 in The Secret Order

Bookologist Analysis: You should get a gif of me after I finished the book.

Amazon

After her parents died in a fire and her grandfather disappeared, Meg Whitlock thought her life had come to a standstill. But when she learned that the pocket watch her grandfather left her was really an intricate key, Meg, with the help of a stable hand named Will, uncovered the Amusementists: members of an elite secret society dedicated to discovery and shrouded in mystery.

Now the Amusementists are convening in London, and Meg is determined to join their ranks. But being the first girl in the Order has its difficulties, and with Will away in Scotland Meg fears she can’t trust anyone but herself. Her worries are only supported by the sabotage happening at the academy, with each altered invention being more harmful than the last.

With threats lurking around every corner, and while trying to prove her worth as the first female Amusementist, Meg must uncover the identity of the academy’s saboteur before the botched devices become deadly. And after she finds evidence of a sinister and forbidden invention, Meg must stop it - or risk the entire future of the Amusementists.

This books blew me away like the Minotaur had hit me, beat me up, and then thrown me. I mean a lot of books fall into sequel slumper, but this did not in the least bit feel like that.  The plot was even more deceiving than the first book and I have to say I liked this one more.

I enjoyed Meg's decision and character development. Second books are known for the character to become more mature and a better person. She made the choice to become an apprentice and she will not quit, she will not stop, she will be an Amusementist. I like that she determined to do something that she will not stop. Heroines that are strong and not damsels in distress are the best type. Meg also didn't mope about Will, she moved on. I enjoy that she realizes that she has a life to fulfill. She has determination to do what she wants to do then maybe she will think about love. With her machines Meg will labor over them till she knows they are the best they can be.  Meg does what he wants and for that she is the best heroine in steampunk. Never let anything hold you back.

I feel that everybody else in the book besides Meg is a supporting character. I feel that is a good thing in this book, but some people don't like that. David is definitely someone to look out for. I personally like his many sides; it makes him one of those characters that you never saw coming. Will- I can't say Will got any more love from me in this book. He just sliced away anything in my heart that as there for him. Will just is someone not trying his best for Meg or himself. That makes me feel that he is no longer worthy, but is still Meg's sweetheart. My favorite minor characters were definitely Oliver and Lucy. They genuinely like Meg and do no backstabbing. Oliver doesn't hate Meg despite all the mistakes she does and Lucy is one of her only girlfriends. O how I love the few characters that do not backstab. Supporting characters, I could do entire thesis on them.

The plot had a different twist. I honestly can say that  I got confused a bit, till the end. I finally got the two villains figured out in my head. The writing itself was something that I only see great masters accomplish. This book was well worth the time waiting for. The plot made think if maybe the Amusementists are hiding something after all. I mean for a bunch of ‘enlightened’ scientists they are certainly close-minded to gender equality. The mysteries are superb. I liked the way it made your heart beat loudly till the very end.

Steampunk is one of my favorite subgenres. I like the fact of sci-fi where we can pretend we are in a much more technology enhanced world with cool Amusementist machines. I also love historical fiction where we see a world that happened. Victorian era is one of my favorite time periods because of the fact it is when women were just starting to come out. Combined they take on such a good part of my love of all things historical and scientific. Go Steampunk!

My review here is fairly short because it is just one more stop till I have to convince you to read the book. Steampunk with a little determination, romance, automen, killers, and pigeons totally make this book worth reading after you've read the Legacy of the Clockwork Keys. I have to say I liked this book better. I can't wait till I can fangirl over it with you. 

Favorite Quote
"I bet the only pi she knows is in the kitchen!"
Ignorant males, never underestimate the power of a female mind. Meg will blow you away with her intellect, stupid males [insert evil laugh]. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristin Bailey grew up in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley in California. As a kid she enjoyed visiting the beach, camping and skiing with her two brothers. Now she is a military wife and mother of two young children. She is also terrible about spoiling her pets. She has one fluffy mutt, two cats who think they own the world, and a fish tank with a quartet of fat fish, and two secretive striped ninja-assassin snails.

In the course of her adventures, she has worked as a zookeeper, balloon artist, and substitute teacher. Now she enjoys writing books for teens who enjoy mystery and adventure as much as she does.

www.kristinbailey.com | twitter.com/KBaileyBooks

                                                      Giveaway

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Book Beginning & The Friday 56 Defy

Book Beginning is hosted by Rose City Reader. Where you share the first sentence of the book your reading, thoughts, impression, and inspiration from that. The Friday 56 by Freda's Voice. It is where you share a sentence from the 56th page or 56% of your ereader and thoughts/impression without spoiling.

I am doing Book Beginnings and The Friday 56 on Defy.

Book Beginning
"The crackle and hiss of the flames devouring our house couldn't block out the screaming and wailing of those who were still alive." 

This just makes you see a house going up in flames. The deafening roar is trying to make you forget the people who are still with you. Something is wrong and you as a reader most find out why the flames are lit and why people are screaming.

The Friday 56
"He must have some by his side at all times. We can take no chances with the life of the heir to the throne."

You realize that something is off. That someone is in danger and that person is an important person to the kingdom/country. You must find out why the person must be guarded at all times, especially a prince.

See you later guys! Have fun watching the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi! 

Review Two Lies And A Spy

Two Lies and a Spy by Kat Carlton

There will be a sequel (No Farther News)

Available Now (September 2013)

Bookologist Analysis: This book was a nice in between thriller with all the typical YA stuff.

Can u pick up milk on ur way home?

It's not the kind of text that would make most people climb out a bathroom window. It comes across as pretty harmless, right? But it's not, trust me. And I'm not most people.

I'm Kari Andrews, and I'm a junior here at the ivy-covered, lushly landscaped Kennedy Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. Yeah, I've definitely looked more dignified than I do right now as I dangle half out of the Ladies' Room window. I'm scrambling for a handhold between the climbing ivy and the old red brick and mortar that surrounds the window so I can pull myself up and out, then drop the four and a half feet to the grass below.

I hit the ground running. I'm not playing hooky--this is a Code Black Emergency.

This book was an okay one, not a big star, but not an- I’m-going-to-barf-because-of-boredom one. It was a spy thriller that was high in action and high in suspense. The actual writing was okay not anything superb that was over the top.

I thought the Kari was a dependable character that knew what she was doing. The fact that her parents are spies is just another fact in her life that is as complicated as a Rubix Cube. The fact that she picked up some of the skills is interesting considering that she is only sixteen. I didn’t like the fact that she is always being held back by her brother. The fact that she is plain about Luke is kind of annoying without any suspense because she just throws herself at him. Also she faces some confusion with Evan that had me smiling in my weird way (sadistic). Kari is definitely a main character that I would look up to.

Luke (Kari’s longtime crush) is just not my type of guy. I mean sure he is the son of one of the most important person in the US (head of the Agency). His twin sister Lacey is an airhead and annoying, the trademarks of being popular. The fact that he is okay at everything is a point up for him, but that he doesn’t have the (moves like Jagger, sorry couldn’t resist) really cool spy moves is a point down for him. Luke is just there for his connections and as a life interest he has no other uses which is kind of sad. He’s okay he is the average guy at your school (minus important parent) and can do some neat stuff, but he is not worthy of Kari.

Rita I think is just all of ours imaginary kickass best friend. She can hack computers; semi beat someone up, and is not afraid to voice her opinions (especially about guys). She is really into becoming a spy so of course she wants to know how to hack (something I need to earn) comes in handy for them while hacking a government laptop. She’s our inner persona and person we always strive for. I wish Rita was an awesome friend I had that had mean computer skills, wouldn’t be afraid to tell the truth, and was totally cool with my horrible plans.

Charley the brother is also kind of cool with being okay with being a girl and a mine genius knowing what four different languages. I just didn't like that Kari had such a hang about his wellbeing. Lacey is a jerk because she stole Rita’s belt and doesn’t offer info right away. Evan is this mysterious British boy that happens to be a jerk at that. I liked the fact that at the end of book she doesn’t admit she has feelings for Evan or if she still has them for Luke. The supporting characters are some the best in any book I’ve read.

This book’s plot with parents being traitors was okay. It is not anything to be overexcited about. I mean this is almost the plot to every spy book, parents/family needs help that means, we have to break into some government building- *gasp*. The fact is that this book doesn’t have much on the plot it is really the okay characters they have.

If you’re looking for a fast read that is sort of original and clean (younger YA) this is the book. There is a sequel coming out that I’m probably going to read just for the heck of it because there was a small cliffhanger. I want to see if Kat can improve upon at all. This book is something you would read just for the heck of it.

I wanted to share the author bio on her website just because I loved it so much:

ABOUT ME

Kat Carlton is the alias for a covert creative operative who's content to kick ass from behind her laptop, since she can barely spell the word 'karate' and has the street smarts of an eggplant. As for hacking? Kat is a shameless expert at hacking into anything that contains chocolate.

Under her various aliases, Kat is a multi-published, award-winning and occasionally best-selling author who has written for many of the big New York publishing houses such as HarperCollins, Penguin-Putnam, Harlequin and Simon & Schuster. TWO LIES AND A SPY is her first young adult novel.

Review Hollow City

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

The Second Book of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children

Available Now

Bookologist's Analysis: This book had sunk with historical fiction, fantasy, horror (at least's that is what the local library dubs it), and vintage photos. 

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was the surprise best seller of 2011—an unprecedented mix of YA fantasy and vintage photography that enthralled readers and critics alike. Publishers Weekly called it “an enjoyable, eccentric read, distinguished by well-developed characters, a believable Welsh setting, and some very creepy monsters.”

This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerizing) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.

This book was the required read for historical fantasy. I love holing with sequels that I have earnestly been waiting for. The book was a bit exaggerated with all the scenes, but was an innocent non-sequel-slumper. It tied in nicely at the end of the book.

This book was a sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children which was more of a fantasy-horror-mystery-for-about-a-mentally-disturbed-boy. This book is more about an unsure boy that doesn't know what to do. It also doesn't help that his power his passive until the enemy is near and is ready to eat/kill them. This book was about self realization and trying to find one's self. I felt that this book was that much more mature because of what Jacob's been through and how he has grown up to become person that is responsible for more than just his safety. I felt Hollow City was a sweet romance that just was in the wrong place at the wrong time (I mean love takes a back seat when your running away from bombs, hollowgasts, wights, random people trying to kill you, etc.) This book was just the highlight of my read the 1/12 of 2014. 

What I Loved:

1) Formatting- I'm a very big visual person in how a book feels and looks that is why I prefer hard books as opposed to an ebook. I really don't think that Hollow City would work as an ebook because of all the photos little tidbits. The cover has a cool design with the head as a Victorian head and line designs with Hollow City in a child's chalk writing. I also like how the author's name is on the side instead of across the bottom. The pages where there is no writing on them also feel very cool with their Victorian designs. The pictures are also placed next to their scenes, unlike Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children where all the photos were in one spot I like this better so you can get visualization. The formatting for the book was superb; the book itself is a piece of art.

2) Humanity- The humanity and honesty of the book is very realistic. The fact that Jacob admits he is confused and doesn't know what to do is an honest fact for a sixteen year old from Florida that is a bit spoiled. His power is not as destructive as a fire-maker (Emma), oracle (Horace), or even a raiser of the dead (Enoch). All he can do is feel the enemy (gut feeling is literal), and see the enemy who are invisible to all else. This is the painful truth that Jacob keeps close heart far from his friends. I felt that despite all most of the characters being peculiar they were still down to earth and all the normal human traits like being a jerk, smart aleck, or pessimist. 

3) Historical- The book takes place on the British isles in 1940. The reality of War World II and the suspicions of everybody are quite real. I mean doesn't someone get a little strange when you see floating clothing (Millard). I mean what better way to show the wights and hollowgasts are evil then have them ally with the Germans.  I liked meeting the Gypsies that were syndrigasti (peculiar in Old Peculiar) and were cool and helped old Miss Peregrine's kids. The bombings in London were scary though, but very realistic. The historical aspect was just more icing on the cake.  

What I Didn't Love So Much

1) SLOWNESS- The book went zigzag south to London, but it took forever with somewhat predictable action with the hollows which was a methodical action. The only bright side was that each time the hollows came there was nice people/peculiar on the hand.  When the action would happen became anticipated. The ending however was very twisty as the whole mission seems to be over and then boom what happens the end of the world. The book in the middle was a bit anticipated, but the end made this book that much better.

Hollow City is really one of the most creative books I've ever read with vintage photos, formatting, and other worldly characters. The setting just topped it all off with being in London during the height of War World II and the new concept of time travel. I can't wait till the next installment for the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Trilogy/Novels.