Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Genre: YA Dystopia
Publisher: Quercus Children's Books
Published: November 17th 2016
Page Number: 528
Rating: 3/5

Summary:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have 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. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.

REVIEW

With the movie having come out yesterday in the UK I knew I had to read the book first. Back in 2013 I read 50 pages of the book and put it aside, until now. Despite the book being pretty chunky I actually flew through it and I have quite a lot of thoughts. Both positive and negative.

The book actually started out well. We were seeing Ruby working away at the weeds in the garden and then being knocked to the floor from the sound of high pitches and waking up in a ward with a female doctor telling her she's going to be killed. Just the thought of that alone sucked me right into the story, but it went all downhill as soon as Ruby left Thurmond. Ruby ends up running away from those helping her escape and meets 3 other children, who end up becoming her friends and together they all set out to find the Slip Kid who they hope can help them all go home to their families. Their adventure was filled with some intense moments, which really gave a great atmosphere from the writing. It was quick paced and seeing these powers be put into use gave us so much more depth into our characters.

But one thing kept nagging in my mind. My dislike for Ruby. She was naïve and acted on things without thinking anything through, creating destruction along her journey. Not only that but she ended up falling in love with one of the first boy she's seen in 6 years and I couldn't help but eye roll the entire time something romantic was happening between them both. Has The Darkest Minds been told from Chubbs' or Zu's perspective then I probably would have enjoyed the story a lot more as those two were the only characters I even cared about.

So with that, I won't be continuing on with the series. But I will be watching the movie and since the book was mediocre the movie cannot be any worse.

Review: The Heir by Kiera Cass

Title: The Heir
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: YA Dystopia
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: May 7th 2015
Page Number: 352
Rating: 3.5/5

Summary:

Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought.

REVIEW

 

I really enjoyed The Selection Trilogy. It was a fast-paced, quick read with an adorable romance, so I knew that I wanted to read The Heir. However, I was left a little disappointed.

 

We follow America's daughter, Eadlyn and we quickly realise that she's all about herself. She's beautiful, strong, intelligent, so she says. And honestly? I didn't like it. She put herself first over everyone else, she constantly acted like a three year old. She sucked the fun out of this book. But despite the fact that Eadlyn was a character I wanted to slap across the face, the story was still very fun and easy to read.

 

The world we were introduced to in The Selection is nothing like it used to be, it's better. Although I did miss the action from the attacks that happened in books 1,2 and 3. Kiera wrote an extra story of a selection with boys, and that is it. There wasn't anything new to the world or characters, but like always, Kiera Cass wrote these incredible boys and this time it's a fight between 3: Kile, Hale and Erik. Each other them are different. Kile has known Eadlyn his entire life, Hale is one of the selected who's a charmer and Erik is just a translator for Henri, but could easily be the man beside Eadlyn.

 

And that is the beauty with Kiera Cass's male characters, she leaves you wanting more of them. Plus she writes them so distinctively that you're never confused. You know who each guy is that you can root for them solely on the fact of being themselves. The twist with Ahren - Eadlyn's Twin -  was great and totally unexpected.

 

I'm definitely going to read the 5th book when it's released next year, I just hope there a little more than we got in The Heir. Maybe an actual romance or some action. Who knows?

 

 

 

Buy the book (Waterstones) | Buy the book (Book Depository)

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

"A magical quick read that will have you hooked from beginning, middle and end."

Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: Dystopia
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: April 24th 2012
Page Number: 336

Summary:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review:

I should have reviewed this book after I had finished it a little over a year ago, but I never did. But now I've decided that I am going to be reviewing the whole Trilogy. My review of The Elite will go live next Monday and The One will go live the Monday after that.

America Singer lives in a world that is divided into Castes, each Caste goes along in numbers 1 - 8. Being a One is being the King, Queen, Prince and (soon to be) Princess. And being an Eight means you have a terrible life. No food, no home. You are most likely to become a Rebel.

What I loved about this book was that despite it being a Dystopian novel it was also very light and fluffy. It was a face-paced, action-packed quick read. The whole world isn't too intricate, but it's also interesting because you'd think that it'd be a pretty perfect world.

It is not.

Maxon's life isn't what you all expected. He may be a Prince, but his Father is harsh on him and every once in a while, the Castle is attacked by Rebels. The Northern Rebels are less affective because they NEVER kill, while the Southern Rebels WILL kill. It's a hard life, but for Maxon it all changes when he meets America.

The change is his personality made him my favourite character, not once did I ever dislike him. My only dislike was Aspen and if I was writing the book I would have him killed in the beginning. He was a character who liked to hold out on things and never let them go.

Overall, I really did love this book. I read it within a few hours and couldn't wait until the sequel (I read it a year on). 5/5 Stars! This book deserves every star rating I gave it because it was that good.

Book Review: Shattered by Teri Terry

  Book Name: Shattered (Slated #3)
  Author: Teri Terry
  UK Release Date: 6th March 2014
  UK Publishers: Orchard Books
  Summary:

When you don't know who you are, how can you decide who you want to be?

 

Kyla was slated: her mind wiped clean by the oppressive Lorder government. When forbidden memories of a violent past began to surface, so did doubts: could she trust those she had come to care for, like Ben? Helped by friends in MIA, she goes undercover, searching for her past and evading authorities who want her dead. But the truth Kyla desperately seeks is more shocking than she ever imagined.

Praise for Teri Terry:

'A gripping Dystopian debut.' Bookseller

'This series just gets better and better.' Jess Hearts Books

'Sophisicated, intelligent, thought-provoking. Watch out Suzanne Collins and Sophie McKenzie, there's a new writer in town.' talltalesandshortstories.blogspot.co.uk

Review:

Blogger note: This book was sent to me from Casey. Her blog is - http://www.dark-readers.com/

Now I am a massive fan of Teri Terry's Slated trilogy. Probably her biggest fan. Her writing is great and her scenes are tense, and for some reason I just want more from her, which I will be getting since she's writing a new series. However, for me, this book was the most boring one out of all three books.

Slated and Fractured were full of action, and tense scenes. But this book, not only was it smaller than the rest of them, but hardly anything went on. There was maybe one tense scene in the entire book, whereas there were at least 10 each in both Slated and Fractured. Now because I say that Shattered is the most boring one out of them all, it doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it because I did. Like in every book there's a new guy introduced, although this one doesn't want anything romantic wise to do with Riley (Kyla), he's a friend. A true friend.

Through out the book secrets were unveiled, which kept me going, but also there were a few twists and they were characters from Slated, and a little bit from Fractured. And, if truth be told, I kind of thought that one or two of them were very predictable: I had that eerily feeling about them. Like trusting them would be a  mistake.

Overall, I did still enjoy this book. And this trilogy will still be in my Top 3. But for me, the ending was offish. It ended like her new series could take place in that new world, but who knows.

I gave this book a 4/5 Stars!

My quote:

'Secrets. Twists. Murder. What more could you want?' Bookbitchreviews.blogspot.co.uk

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Villains

5. Nick from Fangirl - Now I know you're all thinking, Nick? Are you sure? Well, Yes, I am. Nick is kind of a villain. He could've been the reason Levi and Cath never got together, and he partly stole Caths story, even though they both worked on it. It was a suckish thing to do. So, Nick is in 5th place.

4th. The Headteacher from Alice in Zombieland - She's a headteacher who knows about Cole and his zombie defeating gang and accepts it. She actually helps them. Or does she? Well, no she doesn't. That's why she's on this list. She's a spy for the zombies. She "helps" Cole, Alice and the gang, while giving information to these "zombies". So she's on this list!

3rd. Eric from Divergent - C'mon. Eric was the definition of sexy bad ass dude. And yes, I had a major crush on him, but he is evil! He was ruthless. Yet sexy. He was mean, always challenging what people said, even with him being in a room everyone would know and you could tell he wasn't nice. But still, he was in my heart. And that's why he's third on this list.

2nd. The Dark Sisters from The Infernal Devices - As soon as we were introduced to them I fell in love. The Dark Sisters were, of course, demons. They were horrible to Tessa. Locking her up, trying to kill her and that's why I partly loved them. It's actually a pity they didn't kill Jem because he got on my nerves so much (Cassandra Clare take that as a hint) all he did was ruin my experience with the books. So, yeah. The Dark Sisters are amazing!!!

1st. This is a joint number one. Both from the same book. The Lorders and Kyla's "Dad" from Slated - The Lorders are mean. They will kill you. They will kidnap you. They will set fire to your house. They will make your life a living hell. They already control the world, what more could they want. And Kyla's "Dad" was the worst. Pretending he was lovely, but we always know to keep an eye on the "lovely" ones. He's a bastard. He is evil. He is on the evil side. Can I kill him?

Book Review: Fractured by Teri Terry

  
    Book Name: Fractured
    Author: Teri terry
    UK Release Date: Published in 2013
    UK Publishers: Orchard Books
     Summary:

 

"With what I did yesterday, I should be dead: zapped by the chip they put in my brain when I was Slated."

Kyla shouldn't be able to remember anything from before she was Slated, but dark secrets of her past will not stay buried. Caught in a tug of war between Lorder oppression and the fight for freedom, her past and present race towards a collision she may not survive. While her desperate search for Ben continues, who can she trust in this world of secrets and lies?

 

Praise for Teri Terry:

'Intelligent, carefully thought through, tense and moreish.' Bookbag

'A gripping thriller, dealing in conspiracy, deceit.' Eastlife

'Sophisticated , intelligent, thought-provoking. Watch out Suzanne Collins and Sophie McKenzie, there's a new writer in town.' talltalesandshortstories.blogspot.co.uk

Review:

 

In the second book, I did not know how Teri Terry was going to beat 'Slated' but she did. There was more action. More tense scenes. More secrets. And More about Kyla's past.

 

I seriously think I am addicted to this series. I could re-read it over and over without getting bored of it and that isn't because of how amazingly written it is. It's because of the characters and the world.

 

In 'Fractured' a lot more happens with Kyla's "Mom." Secrets are found out and there's even a massive betrayal in the family, and if I must say so myself, I guessed it in the first book. He was nice. And we all know it's the nice ones you have to look out for, plus he became shady more and more through out the two books.

 

What I kind of disliked about this book is that we are introduced to a new male character. I mean, we like Ben. He was amazing! He was funny, charming and I really thought that he and Kyla would be an item. But now he's missing and some other dude has come in; Not cool!

 

But even though I didn't want a new guy in, I didn't really dislike him. I disliked that there was a new guy, but certainly not him. He was a vital part in the book, and getting to know him was awesome. Actually, getting to know everyone was awesome.

 

But seriously, if you haven't read 'Slated' and 'Fractured' then go and buy them because they're seriously tense.

 

Once again, I gave this book a 5/5 stars!

 

My quote:

 

'A beautiful sequel to the already amazing 'Slated.' The future better look out!'

Book Review: Slated by Teri Terry

  
    Book Name: Slated
    Author: Teri terry
    UK Release Date: Published in 2012
    UK Publishers: Orchard Books
     Summary:

Kyla's memory has been erased,

her personality wiped blank,

her memories lost forever.

 

She's been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla's mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

Praise for Teri Terry:

'Gripping, chilling and all too real. An unputdownable thriller.' L.A. Weatherly, author of Angel.

'A beautiful, intriguing puzzle revealed piece by dark and sinister piece.' Sara Grant, author of Dark Parties.

'Everything I have been looking for in a book: suspense, mind-bending mystery, romance and just the right amount of science fiction.' lyndsaycummingsblog.blogspot.com

Review:

 

So I bought this on a whim because Emma, a publicist from Templar Publishing told me that 'Slated' was an incredible book, but I also bought it because the cover was so amazing.

 

When I started the book the writing style took a while to get used too, but before I knew it, it was just a part of the book and I flew through it; literally. I had read it within two days and realised that I needed more Kyla in my life.

 

For me the whole premise was really intriguing, but also very realistic because I do believe it could happen in the future, if scientists got a move on. And that was one of the things that really helped with the book because I was imagining it happening to me, but also I found to voice of Kyla to be very well developed and it showed her becoming a different person over time.

 

As well as that I found the world development to be one of my favourite things about the book. It was interesting to see how everything changed: Being on strict rules, slateds being put with people they didn't know as their parents. And it made me feel sad for them, but I was glad that Kyla had a friend like Ben. He was the perfect companion for her.

 

Overall I do believe that this is my all time favourite trilogy. It's realistic. Tense. Elegant. Gripping. In fact, it's everything. There's nothing else I could've wanted in this book; it's perfect.

 

And that is why I gave it a 5/5 stars.

My quote:

'I cannot get enough of this book. It's tense. Gripping. And elegantly written.'

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

        
         Book Name: Divergent
         Author: Veronica Roth
         UK Release Date: Been out since 2011
         UK Publishers: Harper Collins
         Summary:

Sixteen year old Tris is forced to make a terrible choice. In a divided society where everyone must conform, Tris does not fit.

So she ventures out alone, determined to discover where she truly belongs. Shocked by her brutal new life, Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her.

The hardest choice lies ahead.



                                                                  Praise for Veronica Roth:

'Haunting vision of the future.' James Dashner. Author of the Maze Runner Series.

'A heart pounding debut.' Kiersten White. Author of Paranormalcy.

Review:

With this series having such a massive hype surrounding it I was scared to start the book. However, I was in a reading slump on 'Beautiful Creatures' and decided that I wanted to pick it up. I started it at around mid-night and read on until 4am.

The book was addictive. I didn't want to stop reading the book. The characters were brilliantly developed with everyone being completely different to any other, which is hard to do, especially since most books I've read have way too many characters who act the same. For me the world building kind of let this down, but it was still enjoyable.

Every chapter had something new inside it and I was open to learning more about 'Dauntless' which seemed to be a very horrible place for me. But for some reason there was one character that I had a major crush on. And I really don't want to say who, but I will tell you. I had a major crush on...... Eric. Yes, Eric. I have no idea why, but he stood out the most for me and I just liked his personality. I also loved the testosterone in this book. Peter. Four - Tobius. Drew. Al. Eric. Peter. And so many more male characters and for me I think it got on my nerves. That may be because I go to an all boys school and I hate that, but I hated it. However, Christina is amazing! She needs her own story!

All in all. I really did enjoy this book. It was dramatic, action-packed, fast paced, romantic, but not overly done. And the writing was good, not amazing. But good. And that is why I gave this book a 4/5 Stars!

Top 5 Most anticipated Books of 2014

So excited for these five books. There are more, but on my Booktube channel I am apart of a group called Top 5 Wednesday and I thought I'd add some of the weeks to my blog. Like I said. These are the five books I want now, but sadly, have to wait. These books will also either be a stand alone book/ start to a new series. Sequels or the last book in a series/trilogy.


5. Half Bad (Half Life Trilogy #1) by Sally Green

Summary:

In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and fifteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his sixteenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?

Expected publication: March 4th 2014 by Viking Juvenile


4. The Infinite Sea (The Fifth Wave Trilogy #2) by Rick Yancey

Summary:

How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

Expected publication: September 16th 2014 by Putnam Juvenile


3. Shattered (Slated Trilogy #3) by Teri Terry

Summary:

Yet to be released.

Expected publication: March 6th 2014 by Orchard Books


2. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare

Summary:

ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID.

I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Nothing in the world can defeat him — must they journey to another world to find the chance? Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world changed in the sixth and last instalment of the Mortal Instruments series!

Expected publication: May 27th 2014 by Margaret K. McElderry


1. The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy #3) by Deborah Harkness

Summary:

After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchant­ing series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they re­unite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches—with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its miss­ing pages takes on even more urgency. In the tril­ogy’s final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowl­edge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago.
Expected publication: July 15th 2014 by Viking Adult