“Be true to yourself. But that's something everyone says and no one means. No one wants you to be yourself. They want you to be the version of yourself that they like.”
BOOK REVIEW:The Young Elites by Marie Lu
BOOK FEATURE: Angelfall by Susan Ee
“I knew from the start that your loyalty would get you killed. I just
never thought it would be your loyalty to me that would do it.”
It's
been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the
modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule
the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl,
her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.
Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe
is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of
fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a
desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.
Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.
Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.
BOOK REVIEW: The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
“The only thing you have to do in this life is die," said Mrs. Pinsky..."everything else is a choice.”
SYNOPSIS: On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, 11-year-old Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life--the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues.
REVIEW: The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker is a must read. It is a book that will teach readers lessons applicable to enhance the beauty of their souls.
The plot is not unique. If you've ever heard of Life As We Knew It, you will probably agree to me that this one and that book have things in common. Speaking of, btw as I've read In The After a month ago, I remember this book. I don't know. Yet without that perfect originality, the author still delivered a solid heart whelming, gripping unforgettable story I have ever read in my entire life.
BOOK REVIEW: Fallen by Lauren Kate
SYNOPSIS: What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours?17-year-old Lucinda falls in love with a gorgeous, intelligent boy, Daniel, at her new school, the grim, foreboding Sword & Cross . . . only to find out that Daniel is a fallen angel, and that they have spent lifetimes finding and losing one another as good & evil forces plot to keep them apart.
REVIEW: I've read this book 5 years ago. I received a paperback copy of this during Christmas eve, it was given by my classmate as a gift.
Miss Lauren Kate delivered us another book to compete at the mainstream appeal of genres for Young Adult that time. If I can still remember, correct me if I am wrong, the time this book was released, Twilight is dominating. So I guess, miss Kate wants to make a bold move and yeah instead of vampires she delivered fallen angels.
Rating Standards for Book Reviews
In case you are wondering how I rate the book reviews posted in this blog, here is where I base my unbiased yet sometimes subjective judgement. Take note that number one serve as the lowest rating while ten is the highest.
BOOK REVIEW: GONE by MICHAEL GRANT
SYNOPSIS: In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears. Gone. Except for the young.There are teens, but not one single adult. Just as sud
denly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.
BOOK REVIEW: PARTIALS by DAN WELLS
“I am stronger than my trials.”
OVERALL RATING: 9 /10
STORY: 8/10
CHARACTERS: 7/10
THE FEELS: 8/ 10
ENTERTAINMENT: 8/ 10
PLOT: 8/ 10
PLOT: 8/ 10
Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. But sixteen-year-old Kira is determined to find a solution. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that that the survival of both humans and Partials rests in her attempts to answer questions about the war's origin that she never knew to ask.Playing on our curiosity of and fascination with the complete collapse of civilization, Partials is, at its heart, a story of survival, one that explores the individual narratives and complex relationships of those left behind, both humans and Partials alike—and of the way in which the concept of what is right and wrong in this world is greatly dependent on one's own point of view.
BOOK REVIEW: DELIRIUM by LAUREN OLIVER
OVERALL RATING: 5 /10
STORY: 6/10
CHARACTERS: 4/10
THE FEELS: 5/ 10
ENTERTAINMENT: 8/ 10
PLOT: 7/ 10
SYNOPSIS: Ninety-five days, and
then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to
get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid
while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me
yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to
madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you
have it and when you don't.
If there is one word for me to describe this book and that would be lame. Even a lot of people like this book but, no, not me. First, I hate this book because it has a lame plot. Like ye, its obvious that there would be someone out there, hello, THE WORLD IS BIG! Second, the idea of making
BOOK REVIEW: BLACK OUT by DAN WELLS
OVERALL RATING: 7 /10
STORY: 7/10
CHARACTERS: 8/10
THE FEELS: 7/ 10
ENTERTAINMENT: 6 / 10
PLOT: 6/ 10
SYNOPSIS: Laura and Alec are trained terrorists. Jack and Aubrey are high school students.
There was no reason for them to ever meet. But
now, a mysterious virus is spreading throughout America, infecting
teenagers with impossible powers. And these four are about to find their
lives intertwined in a complex web of deception, loyalty, and
catastrophic danger—where one wrong choice could trigger an explosion
that ends it all.
This novel is like Alexandra Bracken's The Darkest Minds. Kid's with superpowers and weird stuffs. The plot is so mainstream but still interesting given that I am really immature. I used to dream of having super powers, I mean all of us maybe did that. I read this book because I read Mr. Wells Variant novel which blew my mind so I decided maybe this one will do what exactly what Variant did.
BOOK REVIEW: LEGEND by MARIE LU
OVERALL RATING: 8 /10
STORY: 9/10
CHARACTERS: 10/10
THE FEELS: 8/ 10
ENTERTAINMENT: 7 / 10
PLOT: 7/ 10
SYNOPSIS: What was once the
western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually
at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the
Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy
being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles.
Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted
criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From
very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths -
until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the
prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a
race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's
death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of
what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their
country will go to keep its secrets.
After reading all I can say about the book was, "GENIUS!" I salute Ms. Lu for writing such a brilliant book even though it was quite predictable but it still punch something to us readers that this book was written with such tremendous effort that needs to be recognize.
BOOK REVIEW: VARIANT by ROBISON WELLS
OVERALL RATING: 10 /10
STORY: 8/10
CHARACTERS: 8/10
THE FEELS: 10 / 10
ENTERTAINMENT: 10 / 10
PLOT: 9 / 10
The very moment when he entered the academy, he then realized that, Maxfield is not just a normal school, but a prison for children like him. Benson realized that he is among 74 students trap inside the school, being watch by cameras at every corner. Their routines are govern and being surveyed. With trackers and lenses around him, Benson realized that his life will never be the same. And every day that he spend inside the academy, he slowly unravels its secrets that will change your lifes perspective forever. Pack with action, suspense and brain teasing page turner. Variant by Robinson Wells will keep you mouth twisting reader all through out the novel. Unique and fresh dystopian novel that will surely give you total satisfaction. Variant is a novel of survival, trust and science fiction that will grab every neurons in your brain.
BOOK REVIEW: IN THE END by DEMITRIA LUNETTA
OVERALL RATING: 5 /10
STORY: 5/10
CHARACTERS: 7/10
THE FEELS: 7 / 10
ENTERTAINMENT: 6 / 10
PLOT: 7 / 10
SYNOPSIS: They hear the most silent of footsteps. They are faster than anything you've ever seen. And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead. Amy
is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them.
These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the
population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue
“Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the
girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs. After
years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a
colony of survivors living in a former government research compound.
While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food,
safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal.
And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and
much more. Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable
duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the
pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this
thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.
I
was looking for something fresh and exiting to read the time I read the
book. Okay let me get straight, the plot of this book is definitely
promising but the problem about the author is that she has the idea but
she did not deliver------ which results to not giving justice to a potential mind blowing plot.
BOOK REVIEW: THE 5TH WAVE by RICK YANCEY
OVERALL RATING: 7 /10
STORY: 6/10
CHARACTERS: 9/10
THE FEELS: 8 / 10
ENTERTAINMENT: 8 / 10
PLOT: 6 / 10
SYNOPSIS: After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.....
The hype of this book right
now is pretty high which made me buy and read this as soon as possible, but sad
to say, I am not saying that it’s a bad read its just a disappointment because
maybe I expected too much from this book? I don’t know.
BOOK HAUL: National Bookstore Version August 2014
August
is the month in a year where all bookstores here in the Philippines go on sale.
Its been a tradition of mine to grab a copy of gems from NBS every time they
went on sale at this time of the year for already what? 5 years I think. Now
this I got almost 10 books in total, that include 4 Pharmacy related textbooks
for only 220php all. I also got a 30php Pharmacology flashcards which for me is
really god. Now to YA thing, I got Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins the second
book of the famous Hunger Games trilogy for only 50php, yes 50 php. I repeat
good as new Catching Fire book for 50php only (a dollar in US). I also got
Fateful for 99php. Later that day, I
passed by Booksale and I also got a good copy of the Snow Child by Eowyn Ivy
for 120php. Happy kid.
Book Haul in Just 5 Days: Fullybooked Sale 2014 Version
So
back to the book haul topic, we will start to those gems I got at the very
first day, actually the sale starts at August 29 but in August 27, two days
earlier I was already there and started browsing shelves.
DAY 1: August
27
I only got 5th
Wave by Rick Yancey this day and its not yet part of the sale. So I bought it
at its expensive original price for 520php which is pretty devastating to a
student’s pocket honestly. I bought it because of its hype in the net now and
of course I heard Chloe Moretz will be starring the movie of this book in 2016.
I already finish reading the book now and I will be posting a review after this
post so better check I out in my homepage.
FEATURING: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
Featuring: Partials by Dan Wells
For fans of The Hunger Games, Battlestar Galactica, and Blade Runnercomes the first book in the Partials Sequence, a fast-paced, action-packed, and riveting sci-fi teen series, by acclaimed author Dan Wells.
Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. But sixteen-year-old Kira is determined to find a solution. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that that the survival of both humans and Partials rests in her attempts to answer questions about the war's origin that she never knew to ask.
Playing on our curiosity of and fascination with the complete collapse of civilization, Partials is, at its heart, a story of survival, one that explores the individual narratives and complex relationships of those left behind, both humans and Partials alike—and of the way in which the concept of what is right and wrong in this world is greatly dependent on one's own point of view.
Featuring: Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
“It still amazes me how little we really knew. . . . Maybe everything that happened to me and my family had nothing at all to do with the slowing. It’s possible, I guess. But I doubt it. I doubt it very much.”
Luminous, haunting, unforgettable, The Age of Miracles is a stunning fiction debut by a superb new writer, a story about coming of age during extraordinary times, about people going on with their lives in an era of profound uncertainty.
On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, 11-year-old Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life--the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues.
With spare, graceful prose and the emotional wisdom of a born storyteller, Karen Thompson Walker has created a singular narrator in Julia, a resilient and insightful young girl, and a moving portrait of family life set against the backdrop of an utterly altered world.
On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, 11-year-old Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life--the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues.
With spare, graceful prose and the emotional wisdom of a born storyteller, Karen Thompson Walker has created a singular narrator in Julia, a resilient and insightful young girl, and a moving portrait of family life set against the backdrop of an utterly altered world.
Compound by S.A. Bodeen
Eli and his family have lived in the underground Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they've become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy.
For Eli, no amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day.
As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary—and their sanity—Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside.
Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe—or sorry?(
For Eli, no amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day.
As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary—and their sanity—Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside.
Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe—or sorry?(
REVIEWS:
NANCY:The country suffers a nuclear attack when Eli and his family are on a camping trip. Fortunately, they have been prepared for this, and their father leads them to a huge, well-constructed, and well-stocked bunker where they can survive for at least fifteen years--the soonest he considers safe for the family to leave. Unfortunately, Eli's twin, Eddy, their grandmother, and their dog, Cocoa, don't make it in time.
The story starts in the sixth year of their confinement, and things have been going wrong: the livestock have all died, the replacement bulbs for the hydroponic gardens are in very short supply, the flour has gone bad, and the plans for future food are morally reprehensible.
Then Eli discovers that they are not disconnected from the Internet as his father has all along claimed. This leads him to doubt everything they have been told, and as he uncovers more and more lies perpetrated by his father, Eli realizes they must escape.
The tension builds and Eli and the rest of them find themselves racing against time as the diabolical plans of his father are revealed. Moral dilemmas combined with tense plot action make this a good read.
Liz: This is a rather interesting take on the post-apocalyptic novel. Eli has lived in an underground compound for six years with his family. His very wealthy father built the compound in case of a nuclear attack. Six years ago on a camping trip their worst nightmare happened and the whole family was hustled in, save for Eli's twin, Eddy, and their Gram who had gone to get medication for an allergy attack that Eddy was suffering. The compound is well stocked for almost any eventuality; tons of food, clothes in many sizes, and media of all sorts. Despite the fact he's glad to be alive; Eli has gone through the past few years like a zombie, cutting himself off from the rest of his family. However, six years in when the story begins, his youngest sister makes some comments from his little sister, he begins noticing some discrepancies in their life. Between that and the dwindling food supplies, Eli begins to pull himself out of his stupor, takes a look around, and begins to realize that no matter what is causing his current situation, he may be the only one who can save his family.
The author did a very good job a dropping clues about life in the compound and why the characters behaved the way they did. The writing was suspenseful and gripping - I ended up finishing the whole thing in less than a day. I highly recommend picking this one up.
05erikk: The way that Eli was portrayed in the story really drew me in. He went from being an innocent child to a lonely teen afraid of socializing with his own family. He didn’t even want to be touched by another person. It made me feel sympathetic and made me get involved at many points throughout the book. The worst part of the book, and this is really picky, is that there was no direct lead in to a sequel. I would really love it if the author wrote a sequel just because I loved it that much. I know it would be incredibly hard to pull it off but even another story just similar would be good enough for me. Thrillers like this are why I like reading and I barely ever read anymore. Hopefully she can become a success and keep turning out books like this one,
I was hopeful from beginning to end that they would get out and start a new, or even continue their old, life. Every time a new trouble emerged I would get excited and wonder what could happen next. It was hard to even put the book down at times. Family is one of the most important things that you will ever have in life and you should cherish it. But what happens you can’t even trust your family. The answer lies within you because sometimes the best thing to do is just put yourself out there and lays it all on the line. That is what I took away from this book and that is what I think the overlying message of this story was.
Featuring : Prodigy by Marie Lu
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors.
Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles.
Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect.
Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets
Book Review:EVERLOST
The novel was created by Neal Shusterman, Everlost a place where children age 14 under only exist. They are not just a normal bunch of children, but all of them are specifically souls. They are dead children whose souls are trap in the place somewhere between life and death.
The story revolves around Nick and Allie both died at the same horrific car accident. As Allie and Nick realize that they are dead and they are currently in a world between the living and the deceased, they find themselves searching for answers and eventually fighting for their sanity and freedom. Everlost is a world of mystery, adventure and suspicion. A world where souls merely interact with the living, a place where three years old baby smoke and talk, a place where children revolves in the same routine every day, a place where a young girl is the president, a place where both magic and monster exist, and above all Everlost is place where anything could possibly happen if you just believe. Will Nick and Allie find themselves a place in this world?
Neal Shusterman once again made another master piece, a novel full of unique ingredients to satisfy the minds of the readers. So do you still want to stand on that place or bother to take another step, or else you will end up eaten by the earth?
Book Review: FABLEHAVEN
Seth and Kendra, sisters and brothers was left at their Grandparents place during summer. Their parents are leaving for a cruise ship so their force to stay on the old peoples place, Fablehaven. Once the siblings arrive at Fablehaven th
ey soon discovered that the place is not normal nor weird, it is a magical place where fairies and other cool magical creatures exist and live. Later they realized that they are already part of the said place. Cool and awesome things happened that the two did not expect. You won’t also lol.
Fablehaven is one of the awesome fantasy novels out there. This first installment of the series is really promising. I cannot wait to read the next book.Reading the book is like reading one of the Harry Potter series. The book started slow but the story started to take pace and brought me into a creative world of Brandon’s mind. I love the series and the ending was just epic and breath taking. Page turner and indeed series to be root for. I guess it’s worthy to complete all the books of this series.
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