Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl - Review

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

This book caught my eye around the same time the Beautiful Creatures movie came out. I've always had this love to hate relationship with paranormal books. I love them but I hate the fact that I do. So when I saw the trailer for the movie, I knew I had to read the books, I just couldn't get the movie out of my head. I saw the movie before I read the book, and most times I regret it because it kind of puts me off reading the book when I already know whats going to happen, however that was not the case for Beautiful Creatures. Since finishing the book I can honestly say it is very different compared to the movie and in this instance I'm glad. 

Beautiful Creatures is told through the main male character, Ethan Wate who is counting down the days until he can finally escape his life in the small Southern town of Gatlin. Ethan explains Gatlin as a place where nothing ever changes and nothing ever happens. But he starts the question that opinion when Lena Duchannes, the girl his been having a reoccurring realistic dream about, suddenly shows up in town and changes everything. Lena's new and different and the people in Gatlin don't respond nicely towards people who are new and unlike their norm. Despite the whole towns view on this new mystery girl, Ethan can't help but be drawn to her, and soon finds out that different doesn't even begin to describe Lena's life. Lena is a Caster and she's been having the dream as well. Together they work to discover what the dream means and how its effect the both of them before time runs out. 

My most favourite part in the entire Beautiful Creatures book is the fact that Lena and Ethan are able to talk to each other through their minds, which is know as Kelting. I found the kelting parts to be either super cute or horribly sad because it was a way for the two of them to communicate without anyone hearing. I thought this was a nice touch to the story and it complimented everywhere in the book it was used. The other favourite I had was Ethan. I adored that Beautiful Creatures was written in a male perspective and the two female authors did a great job and portray this male character. Everything Ethan did/thought in this book was refreshing because he wasn't like your typical male character. 

So I would recommend Beautiful Creatures to everyone who is interested paranormal but more specific Caster/witches books. I thought Beautiful Creatures was an enjoyable read that ticked all the boxes and overall I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

★★★★

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa - Review

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

I was so excited when I received my latest book purchase from Booktopia and The Iron Daughter was the first book I read from that haul. I was really looking forward to the second instalment in The Iron Fey series because I just devoured The Iron King and I was so excited for more Meghan and Ash action. So you could understand my disappointment when I read that Ash was back to his icy self. Because the book was with parts I didn't imagine, I just wanted to finish the book and move onto the third book. Which I felt was a let down. 

The last time we saw Meghan Chase she was on her way to enemy territory to fulfil her contract with Prince Ash. So now she has entered the Winter Court and is Queen Mab's prisoner. Meghan is alone and scared and not to mention in doubt with the relationship between her and Ash because since arriving in the Winter Court Ash has abandoned her. Meghan tries to convince Queen Mab of the vicious Iron Fey, but she has no luck. So when the Scepter of the Seasons is stolen, Queen Mab blames the Summer Court and this leads to her announcing war against the Summer Fey. With the near future war, Meghan escapes the Winter Court with the help of her friends to retrieve the Scepter of the Seasons, return it to Queen Mab and stop the looming war between Winter and Summer before its too late. 

My favourite part of The Iron Daughter would have to be the very end when Ash stands up to Mother and declares his love for Meghan. This part was nothing special but because the was hardly any Meghan/Ash scenes in this book and because I'm team Ash ;) this scene seemed to stand out for me. This scene also gave me an insight in to The Iron Queen with Ash and Meghan exiled from the Nevernever and this excites me because maybe finally we'll get more Meghan/Ash scenes in the next book. 

Even though I felt this book was a let down in The Iron Fey series, I would still say to anyone who have started this series to keep reading because I have a feeling things will get a lot more interesting. Overall I rate The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa 3 out of 5 stars. 

★★★

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green - Review

CONTAINS SPOILERS

Oh my, oh my, oh my. This book tore me to pieces and broke my heart. I started The Fault in our Stars after finished Looking For Alaska and I just didn't get the whole hype surrounding that book. However I decided I'd give John Green one last chance and picked up TFIOS... I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I finished the book in four days and right from the first chapter I was hooked, my addiction to this book was something I had never experienced before and I guess it started my interest into Young Adult Realistic Fiction novels. 

The Fault in our Stars is about a girl named Hazel, a 16 year old who has stage four Thyroid Cancer. Thanks to the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel's cancer has always been terminal. She regularly attends Cancer Kid Support Group but finds it unimaginably boring until the day a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly turns up. 

The Fault in our Stars is not a "cancer" book. There is Hazel, who is refreshingly real, she has this way of saying things which would normally sound horribly sad, but John Green writes her words so it almost sounds humorous. One of my favourite quotes from Hazel is "I didn't tell him that the diagnosis came three months after I got my first period. Like: Congratulations! You're a woman. Now die." and another favourite quote is "my lungs suck at being lungs." Then there is Augustus, who desperately wants to leave a lasting impression on the world, and oh boy did he ever (in the real world). This book is extremely real and raw, especially in relation to the diseases. There is not one ounce of sugar coating in this book because cancer is ugly and unpleasant and John Green makes the readers see this. 

I can't even tell you what my favourite part of this book is, so I'll tell you about the moment I knew this was my favourite book. I always thought Hazel was the one who was going to die and I had prepared myself for that before I first started to read the book. What I did not expect was that Augustus was the one who was going to die. Screw you John Green! I got this feeling deep in the pit of my stomach that something was going to happen right before Hazel, Hazel's mum and Augustus left for Amsterdam, then as the book moved on, this feeling I was feeling kept resurfacing until it was confirmed and I read the line that broke my heart "I lit up like a Christmas Tree, Hazel Grace...". Then from that moment onwards I was in and out of streams of tears and I've never been the one to cry throughout a book. 

I don't even know who to recommend this too because you all should of read it by now. And if you're saying that you haven't, then what have you been doing with your life. Go out and bloody buy this book and get to it!! Overall I rate this book 6 out of 5 stars, because it is that incredible! 

★★★★★★

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - Review

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

I remember what I thought when I read the blurb of the book, it was "I must get my hands on this book!". Thirteen Reasons Why was my most anticipated book to read. My friend and I decided to read it at the same time, so I had to wait until she got the book which took months. So by the time we started reading it, I had this overly built up excitement and high expectations for the book. Now it wasn't that I didn't find this book interesting, because I did, it was just that when I finished the book I was left feeling... nothing really. 

Thirteen Reasons Why is about a boy named Clay Jensen and one day he returns home to find an unknown box with his name on it lying on his front porch. When he opens it he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by the one and only Hannah Baker. His old classmate/crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On these tapes Hannah explains the thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life, and Clay is one of them. He has no idea why but if he listens, he'll find out how he made Hannah's list.

Ever since I read Thirteen Reasons Why there was something I just couldn't get out of my head, and that was a main point made throughout the book. This being that you will never know how much of an impact you may have on the lives of others, and even though your actions may seem like nothing to you, they could mean a hell of a lot to others. I found this point to be really reflective and that is why I like to read books like Thirteen Reasons Why, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, The Fault In Our Stars, A Walk To Remember, etc. because they make you look at the world and your life. 

There is a YouTube channel with the recorded tapes which are in the book, you can find them here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Hannahsfriend13/videos

There is also a blog companioning to the novel, you can find that here: http://hannahsreasons.blogspot.com.au

I would suggest Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher to anyone because not matter what the negatives are with the book there is also a solid point which is relative to every day life and I think everyone should learn it. Overall I give this for 3 out of 5 stars. 

★★★

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover - Review

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Once I finished Hopeless by Colleen Hoover, I added Losing Hope straight away in my shopping cart. But of course, at the time Losing Hope was still not out, so I had to wait until end of October for the paperback copy to come out in Australia. Whilst I adored Hopeless, I still had questions unanswered, which I think Colleen Hoover meant to create. So I hoped they would be answered in Losing Hope and I was right! 

Losing Hope is Hopeless but through Dean Holder's eyes, however it is not a recap of Hopeless through Dean's perspective, it is a different story told in the same time line but with lots of new material through out it as well. It complements Hopeless, but the main focus is on Dean's life and how it changed after he found his sister dead. As the reader, you got to go through the whole "Hopeless" journey, but with Dean and his struggles like how he forgave himself for the guilt created by letting down the two most important people in his life; Les and Hope.  

I believed that after the emotionally roller-coaster Hopeless left me on, I would be able to breeze through Losing Hope with the occasional bump in the emotion-coaster, nevertheless I was wrong. 

The first chapter, yes the very first chapter, smacks you in the face with Les's suicide and unlike in Hopeless, you come to discover that Holder was the person who found Les and with these particular siblings relationship you learnt about in Hopeless, this new found revolution just broke my heart and brought me to the brink of tears. 

I loved how we got introduced to a new character, Daniel, Holder's best friend. This answered my question "Did Holder even have any friends?". I also enjoy how we got to see more with Breckin, even though he was a minor character, I still thought he was hugely important in the story. I enjoyed how through out the story you got introduced to things but with a new perspective, for example the e-reader "Breckin" gave Sky for her birthday, which actually Holder bought for Sky and gave it to Breckin. 

What I REALLY enjoyed about Losing Hope was Holder's journal entries (or letter's written to Les). I found this part of the story really compelling. Through these journal entries you got to see how Holder felt and dealt with events presented throughout the book. Oh boy, and then when you found out that Les's had written Holder a letter, all I wanted to do was flip through all the pages and find what she wrote. When I eventually did reach the part where Holder read Les's letter, I thought it a was beautifully written part and in some strange ways, brought closure to me. 

I would recommend Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover to everyone who has read Hopeless and for those of you who haven't read Hopeless I would suggest to hurry up and do so, because I promise you, you will not regret it! Overall, I give Losing Hope 5 out of 5 stars. 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Host by Stephenie Meyer - Review

MAY CONTAINS SPOILERS

I was first introduced to Stephenie Meyer in 2009 when I saw the Twilight movie and got hocked . I think the day after I viewed the movie, I went to Target and purchased the first book in The Twilight Saga and the rest was history. At that time I was 12 and I thought The Twilight Saga was the greatest creation ever, but today I would rather scratch my eyes out then to sit through a Twilight movie, let alone read the books again! They are such a bore to me now. So you could see why I was quite sceptical to start reading The Host. However earlier this year I made an impulse purchase and bought The Host and now reviewing this book, I'm so glad I did!

As much as I like to picture characters in my head, I also like it when there is a movie made off from the book so I have a clearer face to picture in head as I read the book. I find knowing what the characters look like whilst reading the book make me enjoy the movie more because the characters look exactly how I pictured them. This was the case with me whilst I read The Host because the movie had already been made by the time I was reading it and I know what the main characters looked like from trailers. Two characters I did not see in these trailers and I got the picture were Jamie and Pet (Wanda's new host). However when I watched the movie this morning and I was more than thrilled with who were cast to play these characters. Especially Wanda's new host, I thought she was so small and petite, just how she is described in the book. 

Earth has been invaded by a species called Souls, they take over the minds of human hosts whilst leaving their bodies intact. Since this species has arrived the world could not have been anymore perfect; there are no wars, no hunger, no unnecessary pain or illnesses. The Souls are a kind, caring and intelligent race. But do these good qualities justify what the Souls have done to the human race? There is only a handful of humans left on Earth and the Souls call them Rebels. The book follows Wanderer or Wanda as she is called later in the book, a Soul who was put into Melanie Stryder's body, a rebel human that was caught. However Melanie refuses to fade away, showing Wanda visions of the man Melanie loves, Jared and her brother, Jamie. Wanda slowly realises that she is falling in love with these humans and decides to set out and try to find them with Melanie's help. Along this journey things don't go exactly as they planned, but the only thing left for Wanda and Melanie to do is to keep moving forward.

This picture above, slightly leads into my favourite part of The Host and this being the Wanda and Ian relationship. When Wanda/Melanie were found by Jeb and the other boys out in the desert and taken back to the caves, I never ever pictured Wanda and Ian to have a connection. I always thought Jared would find a way to love both Melanie and Wanda, so he could be with the woman he loves. But this just didn't satisfy me. 

However it wasn't until Melanie bought it to Wanda's attention that Ian may be interested in her, that I even thought of an idea such as that. I jumped straight into the "Team Ian" bandwagon, even though there was no real love triangle to choose from, just different relationships to love. I was so hocked on Wanda/Ian that I caught myself smiling at the little things that happened between them both.

I loved how Ian could see Wanda for her she truly was and not just a soul inside a humans body and how he defended and protect her against any one, even his own brother. And I loved how Wanda finally found a placed and someone to who she belonged to. At the end of the book my heart was breaking because I thought the Wanda/Ian relationship was going to end when Wanda choose to give Melanie her body back. So I was so happy when everyone went against Wanda's decision and found a new host for her.

I would highly recommend The Host by Stephenie Meyer for anyone who is the slightest bit interested in reading this book to defiantly do so. I know this would not be every ones cup of tea, but it is defiantly a enjoyable read and one everyone should at least try once.  

Overall I give it 4 out of 5 stars. 

★ ★ ★ ★

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - Review

May Contain Spoilers

I was scrolling through Goodreads one day when this cover jumped out at me. I didn't really care if the book wasn't any good, all I knew was that the cover was beautiful and I had to buy it. Once I read the blurb I was more intrigued because this book sounded like books I was normally interested in. Also as I researched more into this book I discovered that it was a part of a trilogy and the covers were just as beautiful. So you could see why I was dying to read Shatter Me.

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in 264 days. This is because inside her she has this curse gift, that bring death pain to anyone she touches. The last time she touched someone she was only trying to help and  it was an accident. No one knows why Juliette's touch is so fatal, so the Reestablishment lock her away in an asylum, so there are no other casualties caused by her curse gift. However one day Juliette gets a roommate and its soon discovered that this roommate is in the army and the Reestablishment have plans to use her as a weapon in a near future war. Juliette now has to make a choice to become a weapon or to become a warrior and fight for her freedom. 

One of my favourite things about Shatter Me is Tahereh Mafi's way of writing. It was sort of unusual because of the use of strike outs and numbers. I found this way of writing to be very interesting because through the strike outs you got to see self-doubt Juliette felt. An example of this is on the back of the book where is says 

I have a curse.

I have a gift.

I'm a monster.

I'm more than human.

My touch is lethal.

My touch is power.

I am their weapon.

I will fight back. 

Another one of my favourite things in Shatter Me was the end of the book. I have to admit was did not get interested in the book until the last few chapters when you find out there was this underground community filled with people who have gifts, just like Juliette. I'm not quite sure why this particularly information drew me in because it is quite stereotypical throughout dystopian stories. 

I would recommend Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi to everyone who enjoys dystopian stories like The Hunger Games. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
★ ★ ★