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Are you aware of how much love there is for Alastair in the fandom? and would it be too much to ask for a snippet of him?

I mean, not everyone loves Alastair, but I can certainly say from my inbox I can tell there is a lot of passionate feeling for him! It’s really early for snippets, so I can only offer a sentence.

Alastair looked amused. “Never before have I heard such a concise statement of the ludicrous philosophy with which you and your school friends go through the world.”

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Can't wait to hear this statement omg

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Review: The Atlantis Complex

The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl #7) Eoin Colfer Middle grade, adventure, fantasy When Artemis commits his entire fortune to a project he believes will save the planet and its inhabitants, both human and fairy, it seems that goodness has taken hold of the world's greatest teenage criminal mastermind. But the truth is much worse: Artemis is suffering from Atlantis Complex, a psychosis common among guilt-ridden fairies and most likely triggered in Artemis by his dabbling with fairy magic. Symptoms include obsessive-compulsive behavior, paranoia, multiple personality disorder and, in extreme cases, embarrassing professions of love to a certain feisty LEPrecon fairy.Unfortunately, Atlantis Complex has struck at the worst possible time. A deadly foe is intent on destroying the actual city of Atlantis. Can Artemis escape the confines of his mind-and the grips of a giant squid-in time to save the underwater metropolis and its fairy inhabitants? You can read my reviews of The Last Guardian (Artemis Fowl #8) and The Artemis Fowl Files here. Ya, about that. I had accidentaly skipped book 7 of the series. *cringe*  So in this installment, Artemis has a crazy disorder causing him to be.... well, crazy. At first I thought this would ruin the book for me, because Artemis being Artemis is what makes this series, you know? In the beginning, it was like that a bit. But as the story and Artemis's condition progresses, we get Orion, Artemis's alter ego. Need I say hilarious? All the things Artemis supresses in himself come out into full play, including his affections for Holly. As a huge Holly+Artemis shipper, you can bet I was WOOT WOOT-ing the whole time.  (Either way, I needn't have worried. Every once in a while our favorite snooty criminal mastermind emerges from the depths have his own mind just in time to save everybody and be mortified by his alter ego's confessions) Mulch was absolutely wonderful. I was giggling like a 5 year old being tickled after his every line. And it was nice to have Foaly on the field for a change.  The beginning with the Butlers was a little slow, but push past that and you'll have a blast with the rest of the book. Rating: What are you reading this week! I would love for you to let me know in the comments! Love, Esty

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Review: The Night Circus

The Night Circus Erin Morgenstern Fantasy? Historical Fiction? A work of art.  The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance. Ahhhhhh. I just. WOW. I actually am in a sort of minor reading slump, and The Night Circus was exactly what I needed. If you're the type reader who connects to places - their secrets, treasures, people, histories and so on, (think Hogwarts, Gallagher Academy) then this is your book.  Right from the beginning, the story had me hooked. You're presented with different pieces, and as you keep reading it begins to become clearer how everything fits together. The mystique, the magic of the place has you completely and utterly enchanted- this of course thanks to Erin Morgenstern's flawless and unique writing. I THOUGHT the present tense would bother me, and boy was I wrong. The scenes, the sights and the smells- it all felt like it was happening right in front of me. There isn't too much background information on the challenge - this was another element I thought I wouldn't like, and again I was wrong. Understanding only part of the story kept me going, and I was provided with enough to feel satisfied. Very realistically, you feel like some things you'll never know, and maybe it's best that way. The characters were complex. The idea of the reveurs is so funny and so heartwarming and relatable and utterly RIGHT and perfect for the story that I just smiled at the very mention of them. As a reader, I had no doubt that I'd be one of them- traveling the world chasing magical nights, making friends with other enthusiasts like me, dressing to match the circus with a splash of red.  This is the kind of book you'll want to pick apart and discuss, have a beautiful copy on your shelf, and revisit in the future. If you love magic, at its most pure and abstract, get your hands on The Night Circus. Rating:

Happy weekend!! Love, Esty

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Book to Movie Review: Paper Towns

Paper Towns Book by John Green  Directed by Jake Schreier

Young and shy Quentin (Nat Wolff) is in for the night of his life when Margo (Cara Delevingne), the most popular student in high school, recruits him to help her play mischievous pranks on the friends who betrayed her. The next day, however, the mysterious Margo is nowhere to be found. With help from a few buddies and some cryptic clues that she left behind, Quentin embarks on an obsessive mission to find the girl who stole his heart and made him feel truly alive.

Hey all! Back from camp finally with plenty of time to read and review! I had watched Paper Towns on release night, but it was hectic after that and I only now can share my thoughts: I tried soooooo hard not to come to Paper Towns with expectations, but the whole production of the thing made it nearly impossible. I mean, all the creators of TFioS, the beautiful trailer, Nat Wolff, John Green being executive, John sharing videos with the cast and talking about it for months now... I couldn't help it. I was excited. Luckily, the film didn't disappoint too much. What I didn't like: The screenplay was disjointed... the tone of the first half (Margo's revenge night) was nothing like the middle bit (Margo missing), which felt nothing like the road trip that was the second half. For some reason, the movie just didn't flow smoothly at all! What I did like:  The girls! It was so refreshing to see Angela, Margo, and Lacy all so totally different but each so strong and smart and amazing in her own way. The loyalty and sisterhood awed me too and struck a chord with me, reminding me of my own friends. The true and oh-so-relatable dread of graduation- I am going into 12th this year with my best friends. I know that feeling. I couldn't stop the tears when this topic came up. The point- if there is only one thing you need to be true to when adapting a book for the big screen, it's the point. The message. Whatever you want to call it. I will never forgive the creators of My Sister's Keeper and If I Stay for screwing up those respective endings and therefore canceling out the meaning of the original stories. So of course, I loved loved loved how Paper Towns ended - the idea that Margo is not a legend, but a girl. Loving her not because she is a mystery, but for who she is. Q realizing that if Margo doesn't know who she is, he certainly doesn't (know who she is).  Best scene: The timed gas station sequence and the surprise guest in the middle of it. Even if I had hated the movie, the price of the ticket would have been worth it for all my laughing when that person from that other JG movie shows up in the middle of Paper Towns and offers you a bag. Nope, still not over that. Literally typing in giggles.  Overall: Music and shots were gorgeous, touching and relatable, a tad cheesy at times but forgivable. Rating: 4.5 stars - half gone for the weird disjointed feeling.  Will be around for the rest of the month and hopefully blogging a lot! Let me hear your thoughts! Love, Esty

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Review: A Case of Identity + The Boscombe Valley Mystery

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Sir Arthur Conan DoyleClassics, Mystery  A Case of Identity: Miss Mary Sutherland, angry and beside herself with feelings of loss, asks Sherlock Holmes to solve the sudden, mysterious disappearance of a shy and attentive man she has grown to love upon the very day they were to be married. The Boscombe Valley Mystery: Lestrade summons Holmes to a community in Herefordshire, where a local land owner has been murdered outdoors. The deceased's estranged son is strongly implicated. Holmes quickly determines that a mysterious third man may be responsible for the crime, unraveling a thread involving a secret criminal past, thwarted love, and blackmail. You can read my reviews on the other Sherlock Holmes stories here.  In A Case of Identity, I got the point as quickly as Mr. Holmes himself. In one of the Sherlock episodes they do an adaptation of this one (very quick) and it's really similar.  The Boscombe Valley Mystery was my favored of the two, because I liked that they traveled, and that there was a little bit of Mary in the beginning. Also, this story was complex- there is strong, substantial evidence pointing to a certain culprit, and yet the legendary detective comes up with ridiculous and complicated and absolutely brilliant deduction that explains all the findings with a completely different outcome. It was terrifically enjoyable, and a lot of build-up. I guessed the guilty party of this one, too, but I had no idea how he'd prove it so it was a definite page-turner.  Rating:   Happy reading! Esty

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Review and Author Interview: Jesse's Girl!

Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks Series) Miranda Kinneally Contemporary romance Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo? As you can tell by the sneak peek I posted way back in March, I was soooooo psyched to read Jesse's Girl. Below, an interview with Miranda Kinneally herself and my thoughts on the book!

1. First off, loving the title, and of course the song it's based on(: Did you name Jesse on purpose? 

How, in general, do you name your characters?

A:  Actually, I named Jesse a few years ago when I first started writing it. Originally, I wanted to call the book BEST DAY EVER. I knew Sourcebooks wanted me to come up with a new name for the book, but I was having trouble. My author friend Tiffany Reisz happened to be at a baseball game when the song "Jessie's Girl" came on the speakers, and she thought it was the perfect name for the book, because she had read it and liked Jesse's character. In general, I pick out names by browsing babynames.com :) 

2. In Jesse's Girl, Jesse is only 19 and has already won 3 Grammys and has been called the king of country. How realistic was your portrayal of the music industry in the novel? (i.e. Wannabe Rocker, Jesse's life and lifestyle)

A: I think it's realistic. There have been many teenagers who have become big music stars. Some of my favorites are Taylor Swift and the Jackson Five. And don't forget Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. They were huge stars by the time they were 17.

3. You grew up in Tennessee, like Maya. How much of her story and experiences are based on yours, if at all?

A: Like Maya, I was in my high school's show choir. I was a complete smart a$$ as a teenager, so I wrote down that I wanted to be a country music singer when I grew up for my school's career day. That's where I got the idea for JESSE'S GIRL. 

4. Your bio lists becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer and a UN interpreter as dreams of yours. What inspired you to write?

A: I've enjoyed writing since I was a little kid. When I got to college, I didn't do so well in my literature and writing courses, but I kept working at my writing until I got published. 

5. So among others, you've told us Sam's story, and now Maya's. What's next for you? Possibly a novel about little Anna Henry? *looks up hopefully*

A: What a good idea! ;-) I will think about writing Anna's book one day after she grows up. My next book is coming out in summer 2016, and it's about a girl who gets kicked out of her private school and has to start at Hundred Oaks her senior year. 

Thanks for having me!

So, the moment I was totally waiting for. In truth? I wasn't disappointed, exactly, but it did fall short from what I expected of it. Therefore, I recommend coming at Jesse's Girl for a good time but not high expectations.

The main problem was little inconsistencies. For example, Maya says she hates country music but then talks about how she always loved Jesse Scott, aka the king of country. Jesse says he doesn't want to upset his uncle but then shows up to the shadowing day (that his uncle arranged and that Jesse agreed to so as not to upset him) wearing his underwear and being a jerk. If they were the characters' antics, you would expect that to be addressed.

Also, I don't know much about country music, but I can tell you Jesse's Girl  is 100% the king of cliche. Seriously, I counted. There was the usually-aggressive-pet-takes-unusual-liking-to-the-love-interest, the adults-all-leave-so-the-'kids'-can-bond, boy-throws-pebbles-at-girl's-window-to-apologize-although-he-is-not-technically-at-fault, and the classic, let's-NOT-tell-major-secret-to-other-major-character-for-no-logical-reason-whatsoever-except-further-the-plot.

But now for what I did like:

A.It was funny. I had some definite LOL moments.

B. Jesse. Awwwwww I just love him

C. LGBT characters portrayed what I judged to be realistically. Like Maya, I have a gay best friend and we talk to each other similiarly(:

D. Country language. I'm still giggling from the 'hit the sack' phrase. 

E. Country people's reactions to NYC.. perfect and probably based on the writer's experience. VERY CUTE

Overall? I had a very good time reading Jesse's Girl - I accidentally stayed up a lot longer than planned to finish it, and I haven't done that in a looong time. Rating:

Love,

Esty

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Review: Unravel Me

Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) Tahareh Mafi Dystopia ticktickticktickit's almosttime for war.Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life. You can read my review of Shatter Me here. As you can see, I adored the first book in this trilogy. However, Unravel Me fell short of my expectations. Shatter Me end off with Juliette, Adam and Kenji arriving at Omega Point, so naturally I was excited. It's always so much fun to arrive at the center of the resistance in dystopian novels. When you start reading Unravel Me it becomes clear that Omega Point is a whole lot like District 13- right up to the dubious, supposedly good-intentioned leader. While that sounds good, I was actually really annoyed. The whole book played out like every. other. dystopian. novel. ever.  And worse, so much happened for no. reason. whatsoever. Like, you have the supreme leader all incapacitated at your feet but instead of capturing him, you'll take the son hostage. WHY. I'd write more examples of this but I don't want to be too spoilery. Basically, I''ll tell you I rolled my eyes a lot. Another thing that bothered me in both the books was how attracted all the male characters were to Juliette. I mean, COME ON, the girl has been isolated and starved in a cell for 3 years, how good can she look? And even after that - she has no access to any hair products or hair removal techniques, and is constantly on the run in all sorts of conditions. I refuse to believe she can constantly be so pretty. Or at least, to the point where EVERY MALE CHARACTER HAS TO COMMENT ON IT. MULTIPLE TIMES. Also, in every chapter, Juliette would make some sort of resolution to be more helpful, to accept herself, to stop whining over her problems with Adam and see the bigger picture. Usually these promises were after an inspiring speech from Kenji. AND YET, EVERY TIME, she would find herself doing the exact thing she said she wouldn't do about 3 pages after she said it she wouldn't. IT WAS SO TIRING.  Despite all this, I did find myself enjoying Unravel Me. Kenji is my love, and curiosity about Warner fueled my desire to keep reading. Rating:

Love, Esty

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Mini-Review: Ace's Basement

Ace's Basement  Ted Staunton High Interest/Low Reading Level Following the demise of his first band, Ace has started a duo called "Two" with Lisa, a girl he has a huge crush on. As Ace and Lisa get serious about their music, Denny, Ace's hapless friend, tries to help out by filming their every move so that he can create the ultimate music video. As a joke, Denny puts together a Two video capturing all of the embarrassing moments--moments that Lisa in particular doesn't want shared. Somehow, the video gets posted on YouTube. Lisa and Ace find themselves starring in the latest comedic viral video. Lisa is humiliated and refuses to talk to Ace--until their fame turns out to have positive results. Orca Book Publishers write books specifically meant for teenagers with low reading levels, or learning English as a second language and such. I take the time to read and review them because we have a good market for them in the book store I work at, and I think it's important to give a reluctant reader something he or she will actually like. You can read my other reviews of Orca books here(: Ace's Basement is a cute, short read, all of 107 little, well-spaced pages. It's got a modern context of young musicians putting themselves on Youtube, as well as the relatability of a high-schooler crushing on his older, good-looking friend. Overall, nothing special to remark on except that there were a few aspects that I felt could be expanded upon, like his relationship with his stepdad, or what happened to his biological father. Rating:

Have a whole bunch of reviews to catch up on, hope to get at it this week! Till then(: Love, Esty

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Happy Birthday Percy Jackson and the Olympians!

The Lightning Thief: 10th Anniversary Edition (B&N Exclusive Collector's Edition) 

Rick Riordan

Illustrated by John Rocco

My review of Percy Jackson's Greek Gods.

Before my thoughts, a tidbit: I reread a lot. A lot of times, in between every review I post here, I've reread another book that I don't review.  In most cases, every time I review a book in a series I reread all its predecessors, meaning I recently reread all of The Sisters Grimm series and The Lorien Legacies. Not to mention all The Heroes of Olympus and Mortal Instruments. 

I don't review rereads on principle (I'm talking about a book I read before I started blogging, therefore there is no review for here on Boarding with Books). The reason for this is because if your reading it again/ continuing the series you obviously liked it enough to do so. Also, your thoughts are very different from the initial impression you got when you immersed yourself in it the first time, more like a personal comparison with what you felt before, not so much review material. 

Anyway! Why, if so, am I doing this review on a book I have learned by heart read many times since my youth and is among my all time favorites? 

Well, it's been ten years. 

God this is so emotional.

When did we get so old??

I remember getting my copy of The Battle of the Labyrinth and staying up all night (or so I thought) until my dad made me go to sleep so I went to bed clutching it. I also remember spoiling it for myself because in grade 4 (or 5) I did NOT have the self-control it takes to avoid the internet. Lord, I didn't even try! I googled it myself! (:

Oh, wait. I meant to review the bonus content in the anniversary edition.

We'll start with the cover: I've seen opinions all across the spectrum. Honestly, I kinda like it. But no, not enough that if given the choice I'd choose to own the new ones. Christine at PolandBananasBooks made a video with her new Percy Jackson swag (so jealous) and made a good point... they just don't stand out like the old covers did! I'd miss the big gold writing on my shelf. 

However, just for this anniversary edition of The Lighting Thief it worked. It was done by the amazingly talented John Rocco (who did every other Rick Riordan thing ever) along with a gorgeous mural of all the new art on the inside jacket. On the inner side of the cover are the covers of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief in a bunch of different foreign languages... so cool!

There's the original outline (Twas the first time I've seen a real manuscript ouline. Twas fascinating), Riordan's first submission letter, a little Q&A, a letter from John Rocco, maps of Camp Half-Blood and the Underworld, a little note from Percy, a Greek Mythology reference guide and a list of myths relating to the story. Basically, lots of cute stuff. If I could ask for more I'd want interviews with the gods, maybe with some of the campers - though I realize it's premature for The Lightning Thief, come on. Who buys the collectors edition if not for avid fans?

Overall, I was so happy. It is an amazing gift to get, and I urge you to give the same present to yourself or to your favorite demigod friend. Rating:

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Review: The Council of Mirrors

The Council of Mirrors (The Sisters Grimm #9) Michael Buckley Peter Ferguson, illustrator Middle grade fantasy  In the final volume in the Sisters Grimm series, Sabrina, Daphne, and the rest of the Grimms and their friends must face off against the Master to decide the fate of Ferryport Landing—and the world. When Mirror fails to escape the barrier using Granny Relda’s body, he turns to his plan B: killing all the Grimms so that the magical barrier collapses. In the meantime, Sabrina has gathered the other magic mirrors as advisors on how to deal with their mortal enemy. They tell her to join forces with the Scarlet Hand against Mirror, in exchange for offering all the citizens of Ferryport Landing their freedom. This final chapter is the end of the road for several beloved characters, but the conclusion is sure to satisfy devoted fans of the series. Ok, lemme just rave for a second.  The Sisters Grimm is the best series EVER. I read the first one as a fourth grader, with my best friend. We quickly fell in love and bought the rest, but at the time the 9th wasn't out and I hadn't gotten my hands on it till recently. A series with female protagonists and their male faerie best friend (who is their adorable royal pain in the butt), it is suitable for both middle grade boys and girls, and is like LITERALLY LAUGH OUT LOUD hilarious. You think I'm exaggerating but I'm not. I loled in grade 4, I loled in grade 11. That should say everything.  I was always able to see myself in Sabrina like I never have in other fictional girls. She is everything other heroines never were - she's really smart but not like Hermione or Annabeth (like, that's not the big outstanding quality that everyone always points out, and basically their role in the story), she's angry and annoyed a lot, mistrusts people and looks out for her family like it's nobody's business. She's not one of those heroines that are written purposely badass to make a feminist point- she cries, she gets frustrated and she frustrates everyone else, all she wants is to be a kid and frequently points out that she got dragged into everything against her will. And yet - she's the one calling the shots, making decisions, getting things done. She's got a smart mouth and keen eye, and knows how to use them. She talks back to adults and gets reprimanded. She has temper tantrums. She makes mistakes, admits them, and learns. She boils over but then apologizes. SHE IS THE BEST, SMARTEST, MOST MATURE AND REALISTIC 12 YEAR OLD FICTION HAS EVER SEEN.  And Daphne? The perfect one to balance out Sabrina, representing a different kind of smart, a different kind of girls out there. Their relationship is believable and lovable, and I'll miss it.  PUCK IS MY REASON FOR EXISTENCE. THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY. And for another fantastic quality of The Sisters Grimm rarely seen in children's literature, say hello to ADULT SUPERVISION. Granny Relda and Mr. Canis have been there since the beginning, joined later by The Parents Grimm, Uncle Jake, Charming and Snow White. The adults tend to infuriate the kids, but they scold them, teach them, care for them, and yeah, sometimes rein them in while being totally fun, hilarious, sometimes childish, and kick-ass themselves. IT'S SO REFRESHING. I realize I have been raving more than a second. And I could go on and on. But I won't waste your time and instead just tell you to get your hands on The Sisters Grimm #1, Fairytale Detectives PRONTO. In the meantime, I will cry into my pillow and mourn the ends of one of my all time favorites series and my childhood.  Rating: Obviously,

Have a great weekend and happy reading! Love, Esty

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Review: Chasing Bristol

Chasing Bristol (The Finding Trilogy #2) Shane Morgan NA clean suspense *Can be read as a standaloneBristol is trying to move on from a cheating ex. The last thing she wants are roses, gifts, and suggestive notes popping up at her apartment and at work. When Bristol meets Mason—a charming and sweet guy who wants a chance with her—she’s convinced that he is the mystery guy trying to capture her heart. The thought fizzles when what appeared to be harmless turns into something much more terrifying, and Bristol realizes that Mason isn’t capable of such things—not in his position. Bristol’s secret admirer is determined to have her for himself, no matter what. Will she have the courage to fight? Hi all! Back for a brief hiatus in studying to review Shane Morgan's newest release! You can read my review of her book Impossibly Love here. Thank you Shane for the opportunity to review your book!  I haven't read Finding Julian, so I came into this novel not knowing what to expect- and so can you. The books in this trilogy can be read as standalones, though if you have the experience I had, you'll want to read the others! Chasing Bristol is the perfect bridge into NA for younger audiences (like me) and the perfect book with suspense for the fainthearted (also, unfortunately, me) therefore making it a book I can recommend to a lot of different people. Also, the girls featured in this book go through terrifying experiences but stay strong and resilient throughout, something I loved that makes Chasing Bristol a great read for those looking for brave and capable heroines.  What I was worried about when picking up this novel was predictability. The majority of mysteries that I've read (granted, not too many) have had me rolling my eyes with their obvious-ness. I can happily announce that this happened with Chasing Bristol- because I TOTALLY FELL for the red herrings in the beginning(: However, don't come with too high expectations- your jaw won't drop, but it's not the person you guessed.  The novel is a short one, without any subplots or anything. Not a complaint, I liked it as it was. Rating:

To those of you in the Northern Hemisphere who have started/are starting/will start their summer vacation soon, have an amazing beginning of summer! Love, Esty

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Stacking the Shelves and The Sunday Post

Stacking the Shelves and The Sunday Post are weekly memes hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Boy, have I missed these. 

Hey all!

Behold, the books I have received since I last did this... in January. 

From Netgalley:

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead 

Angelfall by Susan Ee

A School for Unusual Girls by Kathleen Baldwin

Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally 

For review:

Chasing Bristol by Shane Morgan Gifted:

Blink and Caution by Tim Wynne - Jones

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

AAAAAAAAANNNNNNDDDDD

You don't need me to tell you what this is. Suffice to say I did a happy dance. Multiple happy dances. Some screaming, too. 

Borrowed: Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Bought:

Nowhere but Here by Katie McGarry

Summary: E-X-C-I-T-E-M-E-N-T  What have you received recently? Happy reading! Love, Esty

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Review: Wither

Wither (The Chemical Garden #1) Lauren DeStefano Post apocalyptic dystopia By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can't bring herself to hate him as much as she'd like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband's strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape - before her time runs out?Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom? Hi all. Back from insane exam season for a quick review (: Since 2011, when this book was all over the blogoshpere, I couldn't wait to read it. I picked it up after a hard week expecting a cool, Divergent-y dystopia to take my mind off things. Boy was I wrong.  Wither was DARK. Truthfully you can deduce that from the blurb, but lots of books advertise themselves like this so I didn't think much of it. I was scared and creeped out, for practically the entirety of the book, so on that front it was a total success - just not if you were looking for something light.  I LOVED the character complexity in the story. Jenna and Cecily felt real, and I came to love each girl and her tragic story. I did not know what to think about Linden, which I think was the desired effect for our clueless captor. And of course, Housemaster Vaugn gave me chills.  The writing, too, was pretty flawless. Everything flowed quickly and thrillingly. The trapped feeling of being stuck in a glorious prison came across strong. All that was sick and wrong with the so-called 'marriage' was aptly described in way that was obvious to the reader but normal to Rhine, who grew up used to this world. I would have given Lauren DeStefano an A if not for some gaping worldbuilding problems: WHY, if girls are so valuable for breeding, would the ones Linden rejected be killed and not sold to someone else? WHERE are the authorities in all this- they're running orphanages but oblivious to when said orphans are sold for marriage? HOW exactly did the world senselessly wipe itself out? WHY would North American women suddenly become victims in the legal system after World War III? If society is going to have a major regression like that, you're going to have to explain it.  All in all, I still don't know how I feel about Wither. I think that had I read it knowing what to expect and at the right time I would have been raving more. As it is, I wasn't in the right state of mind for the story when I read it, and it would have been better with more explanation of the backstory. Rating: 3.5 stars

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Review: The Revenge of Seven

The Revenge of Seven (Lorien Legacies #5) Pittacus Lore Science Fiction The have killed four of us.They will not rest until we are all dead.They will not stop until your planet is theirs.They think we are broken.We will not be defeated.We are all that stands in their way.We know secrets they thought hidden.We have power they never expected.The time has come for them to fall. The Garde have suffered the ultimate betrayal: Number Five has allied himself with the Mogadorians, killing Eight and helping the Mogs to abduct Ella from the safe house. Now the fight for Earth's survival has just become that much more impossible. The Garde may not have time to mourn their fallen ally, but they'll make sure to avenge him. And help is at hand from the most unlikely of sources: Adam, a Mogadorian, has turned his back on his people. He might just be their lifeline, but are the Garde repeating past mistakes by putting their trust in him? You can read my review of The Fall of Five  (Lorien Legacies #4) here. As you can see in my above review, I absolutely adored The Fall of Five and the series in general. However, The Revenge of Seven, in contrast, was a let down. Here's the thing - unlike what I hear about The Fifth Wave, The Lorien Legacies isn't really all that action-adventure-science-fiction-y. I Am Number Four was cool because of its backstory, and the whole alien-falls-in-love-with-human-girl pitch. I loved The Fall of Five purely because of the hilarious cracks and awesome characters. But now, the writers remembered that, you know, since this IS an alien invasion story, there needs to be, well, an alien invasion. And they're not as good at writing that. They played the same card they did in all the other installments - lots of build up then end the book. The whole plot was fairly predictable. Sarah was more or less out of the picture, so the love story that up until now had distracted me from the fact that it took 5 books to reach the alien invasion was gone. Six and Sam kept saying they were NOT going to be lovey mushy like John and Sarah but instead they were a whole different cliche - the No-I-Shouldn't-Form-Attachments-Because-People-Die-In-War one. Yawn. The things I did like: - Ella's POV- you GO girl! It is so easy to forget she's 12. - John being a leader. You, sexy, you.  - Adam the Mogadorian- he's cool, respectful, and useful. Great addition to the crew.  - In general, understanding the Mogadorians. Ella's time with Setrakus Ra FINALLY explains a lot of things you've been wondering about for a while.  - As usual, Nine. His lines make the book(: All in all, still a pleasure to read, but not nearly as much as the previous one. I will, of course, finish the series, because, well, the Garde are just that cool. Still highly recommended.  Rating: Happy reading! Esty

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Review: Red at Night

Red at Night  Katie McGarry Harlequin More Than Words Novella In Red at Night, Stella and Jonah are total opposites. She's the girl with purple hair from the wrong part of town. He's a high school senior who hangs with the cool crowd. Until a car accident leaves him haunted by guilt, and Jonah starts spending time at Stella's favorite refuge…the local cemetery.Stella knows she should keep her distance—after all, she spent her girlhood being bullied by Jonah's friends. Once he's sorted out his tangled emotions, Jonah won't have time for her anymore. Too bad she's already fallen for him. No, I did not choose purple just because I like it. It matches, see? Her hair is striped! It's Katie McGarry, obviously it was good.  I looooved the romance, and I became quickly attached to our protagonist, Stella. Unfortunately, so did Jonah.  Now, usually Ms. McGarry doesn't have this problem in her books, but I guess because this is a novella she had to speed things up a bit.  I liked them and their story,  so I have decided to forgive her and I believe you will, too.  The setting was weird and different, something that drew me in immediately. Innocent-boy-has-ridiculous-guilt-complex was not, however. Seriously, I had expected there to be SOME half-legitimate reason to blame himself. There wasn't. SIGH.  I liked how the character development was spoken about. Jonah really changed over the course of 84 pages, and I thought it was important how they brought it up a lot. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been realistic.  There was a really beautiful scene when they volunteer for an organization called Goodie Two Shoes Foundation- the book is part of the More Than Words program by Harlequin, which is helping promote it. I thought it was a beautiful scene, especially as Stella herself is a recipient of the charity - therefore, not making the volunteering a scene to make the characters look good, but really highlighting the work done and the positive results.  All in all, an adorable, quick read. Too short! Rating:

Happy reading! Love, Esty

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Review: Wonder

Wonder  R.J. Palacio Contemporary, Middle Grade You can't blend in when you were born to stand out.My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things. He eats ice cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside.But Auggie is far from ordinary. Ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go.Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?Narrated by Auggie and the people around him whose lives he touches forever, WONDER is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page. This book has won so many awards and has been on the bestsellers lists for so long that of course I had to try it out- and I recommend you do, too. Wonder was NOTHING like I expected it to be. First off, while I knew he was a kid, I hadn't comprehended that the book was going to be narrated by a 10 year old. This, of course, gave the novel a whole new flavor that I'm not used to- the last time I read a book told by a child younger than 12 was To Kill A Mockingbird.   I was also not expecting the POV flips - of course, I spared you the surprise with the above Goodreads blurb. (As you can see, I did not do any research on Wonder.) The voices were beautiful and unique, and switched at exactly the right time - each character telling you what you needed to know about them to really be a part of the story. Wonder was an emotional story - but not the kind that makes you cry. The kind the pulls you in and has you rooting for Auggie and Jack Will, adoring Via and Justin, sympathetic with Miranda. By the way, this book has a ton of crossover potential. Via, Justin and Miranda are in high school, while Auggie, Jack and Summer are in the 5th grade. Truthfully, I think this is a must read, no matter what age you are. My only complaint was the slow exposition. I think the beginning could have been condensed to fewer chapters. Rating:

Love,  Esty

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Review: A Scandal in Bohemia + The Red-Headed League

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Classics, Mystery A Scandal in Bohemia: Holmes is hired by the King of Bohemia to recover blackmail evidence, held by the woman whom the king once promised to marry, but who he abandoned for a woman of noble birth. The Redheaded League: Holmes is engaged upon two seemingly unrelated cases, a daring bank robbery and the disappearance of a pawnbroker's assistant. Using minute details of the small mystery, he is able to solve the larger one.  Although it is EXTREMELY difficult for me to choose, my favorite episode of BBC's Sherlock is A Scandal in Belgravia. Therefore, I was looking forward to reading the story it was based on very, very much. Indeed, it was my favorite Holmes story thus far. However, I don't think that means much as I've only read four(:  Unlike the SH novels I had read before (A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four), these stories are part of the The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes collection, and are MUCH shorter and faster-paced. Naturally, this means they were funner to read.  In Scandal, it was really enjoyable to see Holmes upstaged by a common woman. Irene Adler was new, ridiculously intriguing and of course, as smart as Sherlock himself(; However, she is not a main a character and as totally badass as she is on the TV show, which was admittedly a bit of a let-down.  The Red-Headed League had such an amusing premise that I was smiling right off the bat, and I had NO IDEA where the story was going. HOW THE HECK Conan Doyle came up with these crazy mysteries is beyond me. I had a lot of fun reading these. They were quick and easy, and I highly recommend them! Rating:

Happy weekend! What are you reading? Esty