Book Review: The Selection Stories: The Prince & The Guard

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: February 4, 2014

Series: The Selection, 0.5 & 2.5

Genre: Young Adult Dystopia

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

Two novellas set in the world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series are now available in print for the first time. The Prince and The Guard both offer captivating views into the hearts and minds of the two men fighting to win America Singer's love. This collection also features exclusive bonus content, including a sneak peek at The One, the eagerly anticipated third novel in the Selection series.

Before America arrived at the palace to compete in the Selection, there was another girl in Prince Maxon's life. The Prince opens the week before the Selection begins and follows Maxon through the first day of the competition.

Raised as a Six, Aspen Leger never dreamed that he would find himself living in the palace as a member of the royal guard. In The Guard, readers get an inside look at Aspen's life within the palace walls--and the truth about a guard's world that America will never know. 

--From Goodreads

REVIEW

I'm not much of a novella reader, but I thoroughly enjoyed both of the novellas included in The Selection Stories. The insights into both Maxon and Aspen were almost more than I could ask for, and it made it even harder for me to make a decision as to who I wanted America to end up with! For that reason alone, I give The Selection Stories a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

It was remarkable to get an inside view into how Maxon viewed the Selection. He seemed unsure about it from America's perspective, but reading it from his own was more than I could have expected. He was sad and uncertain, and always under the thumb of his father. It was eye-opening to see what he truly wanted out of life... Just someone to love him.

Aspen was more than I remembered from America's memories of him. I expected him to be cruel and unhappy, but it seemed that he was the exact opposite. It was a great thing to see the way his character developed outside of the memories that America had of him. It was a wonderful way to end the series. And I'm so glad I picked them up! 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Afterlife by Ksenia Anske

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: August 5, 2013

Series: Siren Suicides #3

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal and Urban Fantasy

Acquired From: Personal Collection

SYNOPSIS

Ailen Bright is more lost than ever. Her father has betrayed her yet again, but keeps her longing for his love alive with some almost-heartfelt confessions, though few and far between. She and Hunter can never be together without fighting the urge to strangle each other with their bare hands. And to top it off, two-faced Canosa won't leave her alone. Her resolve to do the right thing is wavering as she tries to protect the ones she loves, simultaneously searching for a reason to keep on living, and the final chapter of Siren Suicides comes to a tumultuous close, bringing death, life, and love.

REVIEW

It may have taken me a while to get to this one, but I can't tell you how much I loved the final installment of the Siren Suicides. Once again, Ksenia Anske has done a fantastic job dealing with life, death, and the problems of adolescence. It was a brilliant novel that I can easily give a 4 out of 5 stars to. 

One of my favorite things about this novel was how Ailen had such a hard time dealing with her own feelings and uncertainty. She was incredibly real and had struggles that were almost too big for her to handle. She was simultaneously fragile and viscous. I loved reading about her struggles and her personality. 

The one thing I didn't like about this novel was the ending. It was a little bit too "soap opera" dream sequence for me. But regardless of the ending, the rest of the novel was brilliant and wonderful. I loved it, and will definitely read it again. 

 

Book Review: Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Publisher: Quirk Books

Publication Date: January 14, 2014

Series: Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #2

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal 

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom.

Hollow City draws readers into a richly imagined world of telepathy and sime loops, of sideshows and shape-shifters--a world populated with adult "peculiar," murderous wights, and a bizarre menagerie of uncanny animals. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience. 

--From Jacket Cover

REVIEW

It took me quite a long time to read this one, mostly because at the start I had to go back and figure out what had happened in the last book. That was one of the things that bothered me about this one--Hollow City is definitely one of those books that could benefit from one of those Previously... sections at the start. It reminds you who the characters are all right, and what their particular peculiarity is, but it doesn't mention much about what happened in the previous book. I'd like to have seen that.

Hollow City is just as interesting and peculiar as the first book, although it lacks the uncanny insights from Miss Peregrine as she is unable to speak throughout the book. The peculiar children race from Wales, battling wights and hollowgast to find another peculiar headmistress who can heal Miss Peregrine, and in that is the adventure of this book. I can honestly say I enjoyed it, and I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

Like its predecessor, Hollow City is awash with interesting vintage photographs that make the story seem even more realistic than just with the writing. Riggs has crafted another tale that will keep you up at night wondering if there really are peculiars out there, and what, exactly, might be hiding in the shadows. 

 

 

Book Review: Defy by Sara B. Larson

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: January 7, 2014

Series: Defy #1

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and fried Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect? 

--From Goodreads

REVIEW

Before I picked up Defy, I'd read a lot of other reviews from other people. While the cover isn't entirely intriguing or drawing in regards to the story itself, but the other reviews I've read had turned my head enough that I couldn't help but read it. And I'm so very glad that I did.

Defy is a wonderful fantasy story about a girl who is forced to hide her true identity just to survive. I absolutely loved how Alex was judged not by her looks--not even when it was revealed that she was a girl--but by her skill and courage. It was a great thing to see that a character was praised for her strength and her character rather than her beauty. Especially at the end of the novel (no spoilers!), it is uplifting to see how inner beauty is praised in this book. 

Maybe that's why I can give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It was beautiful and breathtaking in its descriptions. The back story of the characters and the world in which the story is set is strong and well put together. It draws the reader in and doesn't let go until the final page.  

 

 

Book Review: Lure of the Dead by Joseph Delaney

Publisher: Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins

Publication Date: August 21, 2012

Series: The Last Apprentice/Wardstone Chronicles #10

Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult Fantasy & Horror

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

Time is running out for Thomas Ward.

His final battle against the Fiend is drawing near, and the Spook's apprentice has never felt more alone in his task. Isolated and afraid, the Fiend is set to send the greatest of his servants against him--Siscoi, a Vampire God more ferocious than anything he has yet faced. 

Tom must risk his life to prevent the evil beast from entering this world, even as he learns that the final destruction of the Fiend may involve a sacrifice more terrible than he can imagine.

REVIEW

Ever since the first book, I've been in love with The Last Apprentice series. I can't say that it actually scares me all that much, but it is a wonderful fantasy story. So it is with ease that I give Lure of the Dead 4 out of 5 stars. 

There were several great twists in the novel that made me love it even more, and it is a great continuation of the earlier novels. Tom faces a lot of new challenges and encounters a vast number of new creatures that he has to learn more about. And it is a glimpse into the journey that Tom makes into growing from the Spook's apprentice to a Spook in his own right. 

The mythology of this story was really wonderful, and it was a good departure from the earlier stories that dealt mostly with regular old evil witches. This one had a lot of new creatures and characters that were interesting and slightly frightening. There was lots of suspense and several great mysteries that made Lure of the Dead an amazing read. 

The only thing I didn't like about this novel was the predictable sacrifice that was put in front of Tom. But I expect, and hope, that it will be addressed in later novels.  

Champion by Marie Lu

Legend Series #3
Putnam Juvenile
November 5, 2013

 SYNOPSIS

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic--and each other--and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government's elite circles as the Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high level military position. 

But neither could have predicted the circumstances that would reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic's border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country's defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything.

With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu's bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

 

REVIEW

Overall, I give Champion a 4 out of 5. The novel is interesting and fast paced. It picks up nearly 8 months from the end of Prodigy with very little description of what happened in the intervening time, which kind of bugged me a little, but it must not have been that important to the story overall. BEWARE OF SPOILERS! There's a lot of talk about Day's condition and the fact that he's dying, which pushes the timeline of the story into a pretty compressed space, but it makes for a bit more excitement. However it does make some things a little less believable. 

The one thing about this novel that I didn't like was the ending. The loose ends were tied up much too neatly for my taste. The real problem in Day and June's relationship is the fact that June is pretty much responsible for the fact that Day's mother was shot and Eden was taken captive by the Republic and experimented on. While Lu made that a real dramatic point throughout Champion, in the end it seemed she glossed over it and tied that point up much too easily. You'll have to read for yourself to see exactly how it happened, but I thought it was a bit of a cop out myself.