Favorite Books of 2014

1. In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

Genre: Sci/Fi, a little Dystopian

The last book to The Darkest Minds trilogy. A great ending to a great series. If you’re looking for a good read with a strong heroine, well developed characters and intricate world building, pick this series up.   

Recommended for: anyone who loves a strong female lead and characters with awesome powers  

2. Cress by Marissa Meyer

Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi

The third book to the Lunar Chronicles. The Lunar Chronicles is a fairytale retelling of different characters set in a future world of cyborgs and robots and people from the Moon with great powers. Full of adventure, humor and romance. 

Recommended for: fans of Fantasy with pieces of Science Fiction mixed in.  

3. The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

Genre: Sci/Fi

The second book to the 5th Wave series. The world has been taken over by aliens who insert themselves into humans. These books are dark, adventurous and compelling. A similar concept to The Host by Stephanie Meyer without too much romance.

Recommended for: Sci/Fi fans who want to prepare for a future alien invasion

4. The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Genre: Fantasy, Mythology

The final book to the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan which is a continuation of the his first series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The demi-gods’ have their final battle with Gaia. Though I was expecting a grander finale, it was a good enough read with classic Riordan humor.

Recommended for: Percy Jackson fans, mythology fans

 

5. The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre: Fiction (Young Adult)

The story of a girl names Hayley who, after years of being on the road with her father, had finally settled down so she can attend school. Her father is a war veteran with severe PTSD with his memories constantly haunting him and Hayley tries her best to take care of them both.

Recommended for: readers who like emotional stories 

 

6. Exposure by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs

Genre: Sci/Fi

The fourth book to the Virals series by Kathy Reichs. It follows Tori, Hi, Sheldon and Ben as they try to be more in control of their canine power as they set out to solve a kidnapping when two of their classmates go missing. These books are adventurous and mysterious.

Recommended for: Sci/Fi and mystery fans

 

7. This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl

Genre: Non-Fiction, memoir

A collection of diary entries, birthday cards, internet entries, memoirs from family and friends, etc. of Esther Earl. She passed away of cancer as a teenager but her story remains an inspiration. John Green dedicated The Fault In Our Stars to her.

Recommended for: fans who like emotional stories, John Green fans

 

8. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Genre: Fantasy

The story of Harper Pierce who unexpectedly becomes a Paladin, of an ancient line of guardians with lethal fighting skills, and is given the task of protecting David Stark, one of Harper’s least favorite people. This book is humorous and adventurous. A fun read, not too heavy but not too light

Recommended for: Fantasy fans who like well-rounded female heroines

Ten Favorite Sci-Fi Books

1. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
   
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
   
3. The Darkest Minds by Alexander Bracken
   
4. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
   
5. Legend series by Marie Lu
   
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth
   
7. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
   
8. Gone series by Michael Grant
   
9. Maximum Ride by James Patterson
   
10. Matched by Allie Condie
    

Ten Favorite Fantasy Books

1. The Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling
   
2. Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
   
3. A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin
   
4. The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare
   
5. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
   
6. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
   
7. Fire by Kristin Cashore
   
8. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
   
9. Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
   
10. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
    

Review: "In the Afterlight" by Alexandra Bracken

~o~Rating~o~
 

You know those book series where you get to the last book and there are so many different characters that authors shove some of them aside to better fit their plot? Or just make them do things completely out of character and so against their personalities that you start to wonder whether or not you’re reading a fanfiction? Or that feeling you get when you finish the series and there are way too many questions left unanswered that you feel like it cannot possibly be the last book? If you’re worried about any of that from happening in this book, take a deep breath and let it out because this book was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!

I didn’t think it would be possible for Bracken to pull off this ending with all these characters still intact and wholly themselves but she does and she does it well. This was exactly the book I needed to restore my faith in trilogies. I fell in love with these characters and I wanted to see them thrive and they did. Everyone played their own part whether it was big or small. 

I was scared of my expectations for this book because I expected greatness but Alexander Bracken (as usual) did not disappoint. If you haven’t read it yet, do it now!

~o~SPOILER ALERT~o~

First, let’s start off with the negatives. Some people were complaining about how the book was slow and dragging towards the middle (which is true) but I felt like the book needed it. Never Fade was very action packed with only a few moments where the characters actually got to relax and plan their next step which is exactly what happened in this book. These characters needed a little break from all the fighting anyway and it gave time for a lot of character development. 

The only parts I didn’t like (or more, the parts that frustrated me) were the ones with Ruby completely cutting Liam off. She kept going off to Cole (who is actually pretty cool) without giving Liam a reasonable enough explanation. I was yelling at her in my mind throughout the whole ordeal, seriously Ruby, COMMUNICATE! I felt so bad for poor Liam! Also the fact that Cole didn’t tell Liam about him being a Red until almost the end was so annoying! It could have really improved their relationship and Liam would have definitely understood Cole’s need for secrecy. 

Ruby developed so much as a character. She is very different than she was in the beginning of the first book completely terrified by herself; I loved seeing how confident she became and how in control of her power she was at the end. I was actually glad when she decided to go back to Thurmond, I thought she needed that closure and she probably thought so herself. The books started with her being taken to Thurmond and ended with her going back to get everyone out (that right there is great planning). I was also so overjoyed to see Sam again! Ruby fixed her mind and she remembered Ruby and it was just so sweet! And she found her grandma! Or rather her grandmother and parents found her; it was a great reunion! 

And let’s just say Vida and Chubs is PERFECT! I totally saw it coming in Never Fade! I think I love them more than Liam and Ruby. The scene where Vida gives Chubs his glasses all fixed up, it was adorable! 

The reunion with Zu! I was wishing so hard they would find Zu and they did. When Ruby first saw her and was describing how weak she looked, I almost cried. Sweet little Zu, they shouldn’t have let her go in the first place! And the interview she gave with Alice was marvelous. She spoke! She SPOKE! (And Vida was the one who encouraged her)! I cried; I really did. 

Like I said before, Cole’s pretty cool and I do like him but if any main characters had to die, I’m kind of glad it was him. I am way too attached to the other characters to handle their deaths. 

And Clancy. Stupid, idiotic, manipulative, devil child Clancy. Ruby really should have known better than to believe he was under control and would just sit in a cell doing nothing. Come on Ruby! Learn! It’s Clancy freaking Gray! When did he ever sit around and do nothing!? Of course he had a plan! I would have been surprised if he didn’t. BUT learning more about his past, I did feel the tiniest bit of sympathy for him. 

Which brings me to Nico. I was VERY VERY VERY mad at him in the last book because of poor Jude. In the Afterlight made me start to love him though. He believed in Clancy, he knew him before he went all psychotic power-hungry teenage Voldemort. Nico loved him and love clouds judgments. I liked how in the end Nico went and started yelling at Clancy and I got all hopeful because Clancy seemed like he was going to listen. I think he might have if his stupid mother hadn’t burst in. Mother Gray! Couldn’t you wait another minute? 

Ruby wiping Clancy’s memory was an act of mercy. That was a good thing and it probably saved a lot of people from falling in the other end of his manipulations. 

The last scene where they were coming out of Thurmond was EPIC! Absolutely, positively AMAZING! How the thousand of kids got out of camp and the parents came out (go Liam’s idea!) and the soldiers stood down. *satisfied sigh* It was good. Just so good. 

And Chubs. Oh my goodness, Chubs! He was great at the meeting at the end arguing about the Psi-kids’ rights. I was so proud! 

Overall, this was the best ending of a series I have read in YEARS. Maybe since Harry Potter. Bracken’s writing is so elaborate and beautiful it’s hard not to love these books. I cannot wait until she publishes something else because I will definitely be reading them.

Review: "The Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

~o~Rating~o~


This book was, well… disappointing. Not because it was a bad book (which it definitely wasn’t) but because I was expecting something much more. The beginning started off okay; the middle was good enough the ending though lacked closure. It wasn’t satisfying enough for me. There were a lot of questions left unanswered, which might have been because Riordan was trying to leave them up to the reader’s imagination but I wish he had answered them.

~o~SPOILER ALERT~o~

I will start off with the parts I loved (starting of-course with Nico). Nico has been one of my favorite characters since The Titan’s Curse. And after HoH, I really wanted him to have his happy ending. In BoO, Nico is the one character who developed the most. He finally started accepting himself and the fact that he also deserves happiness. I liked how close he and Reyna got during their quest and I loved how supportive Reyna was of him. 

And let me just say that Solangelo is PERFECT. I absolutely love the idea of Nico and Will (which might have something to do with the fact that I am a daughter of Apollo).  

I like Reyna way more than I originally had after this book now that we know more of her background. She is a very strong person and she had gone through a lot (which was the case for most of these demi-gods). The fight between her and Orion was memorable. I screamed when he almost killed Blackjack, that was NOT okay. 

I also loved some of the fighting scenes especially the one with Nike. The fact that they kept the goddess of victory hostage was hilarious. And I thought it was very nice of Percy telling Leo he would help him find Callypso again. 

And let me just say the fight between the giants and the demi-gods/Olympians was great. I thought it would’ve been even better if we had gotten to see the individual fights and not just from Jason’s POV but that would’ve been very hard to do. I would’ve loved to hear Percy’s and Poseidon’s conversation though. Zeus seemed okay enough (except that he banished Apollo. Did I mention how much I love Apollo?)

Okay, now to the complaints. I have multiple. 

First (as many others have pointed out before me) WHERE THE HADES WERE PERCY AND ANNABETH IN THIS BOOK? And Hazel and Frank? Were they just not worthy of being present in the LAST book in the series? It would’ve been better if he just tossed them all to Tartarus instead of this horrible injustice of *shudder* making them background characters. 

Again as many people pointed out, where the Hades was Percy’s fatal flaw? It took him no more than three seconds to let Jason and Leo take care of Gaea. There were so many hints about Percy not being able to let go and not being able to see the “bigger picture” when it came to saving his friends. And it only took one line from Annabeth to convince him otherwise? Really?

And I felt that Riordan was trying way too hard to make the readers like Jason and Piper more. Jason saving Percy underwater was good (especially imagining him in this whirlwind tornado type of wind) but it seemed a bit unrealistic to me. Percy seemed almost like a damsel in distress, at-least let him attempt to push the poison out. Yes, Percy mentions that he thought he kind of deserved being poisoned because he used poison to choke the misery goddess to death, but this is PERCY we’re talking about. Even if he didn’t try to save himself for him, he would do anything he could to try and save his friends (which again, go back to his fatal flaw). 

And as with Piper, she definitely went through some character development. Her charmspeak has gotten very strong, I mean she made the earth goddess fall asleep. I think that deserves a nice little clap. I also liked that her and Annabeth became such good friends. But again I thought Riordan was trying a little too hard to let readers know they were the best of buddies. 

Frank and Hazel were also overshadowed in this book. The only memorable part with Hazel I can remember is their fight with Nike when she started raising those obstacles. I don’t even remember Frank doing anything. Poor Frank. 

Leo. Oh my Leo. I am VERY glad he didn’t though. And that Caleo happened. I would’ve enjoyed watching Leo and Callypso go back to camp. 

I thought Riordan not killing off one of the characters was an okay decision, a bit of a cop out. After so much hype about someone dying, I was actually disappointed that no one did. No one important anyway. Stupid Octavion. 

I also wanted to see a Thalia/Jason reunion. I wanted a Percy/Callypso reunion. I REALLY wanted a Percy/Sally reunion. I wanted a Rachel/Percy reunion. I wanted to hear Blackjack speak for one last time. I wanted one last Percabeth moment in one of their Point of Views. 

No, this was not a bad book. But it just left me wanting something more. *Big sigh*

BUT a HUGE thank you to Rick Riordan for writing this wonderful series. It was good while it lasted.

Review: "The Infinite Sea" by Rick Yancey

~o~Rating~o~

   

Wow. This book was intense. Just wow. The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey is full of action and adventure, very thought provoking and some of the plot twists completely blew my mind. After loving The Fifth Wave so much, I was apprehensive about this sequel, thought I shouldn’t have been. Though I did not enjoy is as much as I did the first book, it was still mind boggling.

Not many things happen in the first few parts. We get to witness the characters plan and see how they interact with one another. Mostly, the first parts just build up to the climax scene. Some passages in this book made me think twice about humanity and what one human is capable of. 

~o~SPOILER ALERT~o~

My new favorite character= Ringer. In the first book, I really did not like her. At first she seemed haughty and arrogant but she shined in this book. The last whole chunk of this book was through her point of view. She’s analytical and she’s quick on her feet. I’m guessing that’s why Vosch chose her as his experiment for the 12^th system (a program that “enhances” humans). 

I was actually quite annoyed at Cassie in the beginning because she seemed to be whining way too much. Reading her POV was starting to frustrate me and I was glad when the perspectives changed. I did love that her and Evan reunited though. Those two really deserve it. We didn’t get to see as much Evan as I wanted to but the scenes with him were satisfying enough; he did die almost a hundred times and was pretty much at the brink of death throughout the whole book. 

A moment of silence for poor Teacup and poor Poundcake, children of war. Rest in peace. 

Grace’s character confused me so much. She’s another “alien” who knew Evan before the Waves. Evan says something about a mothership coming to get her. So... why? Is she special? Didn’t seem like it. Hopefully, Ringer will beat the sense out of her and then throw her to Mars. Let’s see how she likes it then, telling Cassie that Sam is dead. How dare she?!?!

The plot twist at the end surprised the Hades out of me. Ringer realizes that there are no aliens, the aliens were NEVER THERE. 

“It’s a… a program, a delusional construct. Inserted into their minds before they were born, switched on when they reached puberty- a lie, it’s a lie. They’re human.” 

THE ALIENS AREN’T REAL!! Which means it were the humans all along, right? Right? Was this just a plan to demolish the present human race and create a mutated and more evolved species? So everyone who thinks they are aliens aren’t really aliens? Is my life a lie? 

The next book better get here quick.

Ten Favorite Childhood Books

Ten Favorite Childhood Books

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1. Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery
   
Anne Shirley, the red haired, feisty, strong and extremely generous heroine remains one of my favorite female characters of all time. I found some scenes very funny when I first read this book. Anne is a very realistic character; she's someone many kids can relate to as they're growing up.
2. Frindle by Andrew Clements
   
Nick is probably one of the funniest child characters I have encountered. I loved the whole concept of him inventing a new word. The word frindle itself sounds funny.
3. Judy Blume books
   
I used to love Judy Blume's books especially the Fudge series. I don't remember most of what happened but I do remember loving the tone of the books.
4. Holes by Loius Sachar
   
Holes is one of the first chapter books I read and therefore holds a special place in my heart. I think the overall story line is very interesting. The fact that these kids went to a rehabilitation camp in the desert to dig holes all day appealed to me for some reason.
5. Junie B. Jones books by Barbara Parks
   
Junie is funny, witty and charming. I loved reading through her perspective. She's one of those frustrating children one cannot help but love.
6. Matilda by Roald Dahl
   
 

Matilda, the sweet and incredibly smart little girl with telekinetic power with a very moving story. The first book characters I remember truly disliking are her parents; they made me so angry! In spite of that, Matilda turned out to be a wonderful child.







7.  The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
   
These books are full of action, suspense and friendship. The four kids Reynie, Kate, Stickie and Constance all have their own personalities but always look out for each other when needed. Their adventure is a fun one and I thoroughly enjoyed going along with them
8. Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary
   
Ramona, like Junie B. Jones, is another very funny child character you cannot help but fall in love with. She has a very active imagination and a great sense of humor. I love almost all of Beverly Cleary books but the Ramona ones are definitely my favorite.
9. Sammy Keyes by Wendelin Vaan Draanen
   
While some people were obsessed with Nancy Drew, I was obsessed with child sleuth Sammy Keyes. Sammy is smart, bold, sassy and just awesome. She solves crimes in her small town with some very weird residents. These books are full of comedy as well as suspense. I love them!

10. Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
    
These books were such a wonderful journey. Violet, Klaus and Sunny are three siblings who had gone through so much but stayed strong and united throughout the whole series. I loved those three characters as friends. This was also the first big series I read so they hold a special memory as well.