Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Legend by Marie Lu
Legend #1
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Published November 29, 2011
Hardcover, 305 pages

Overview:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Review:

Recently, I've been reading a lot of dystopian books and needed a change, so I randomly picked up Legend, which has been on my shelf for over a year now.

One of my favorite things about Legend was that while it does fall into the apocalyptic/dystopian genre, it feels more like an action novel. The world-building is great (the idea of a Republic battling rebellious colonies, although something that's been done before, keeps its originality here), and once the story starts going, it doesn't stop until the end. Reading it almost felt like I was watching a movie--everything is very concrete and vivid.

I also really liked the two main characters, June and Day. They're from two very different worlds with very different stories, but it's not like one is more interesting than the other. Even though they are on "opposing," so to say, sides of what is happening, a lot of the time I was rooting for both of them. Also, their different chapters are told in separate fonts, making it easy to remember who's the narrator at any moment.

I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading Legend, but I really enjoyed it. Full of great character development and plenty of action sequences that kept me up late reading, this book was exactly what I was looking for, even if I didn't know it at the time. This one has been on my shelves for a long time now, and I'm not sure why it took me so long to read it, but I'm glad I finally did.

Overall rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Just One Day #1
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Published January 8, 2013
Hardcover, 368 pages

Overview:

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Review:

I adored Just One Day. Having read some of Gayle Forman's other books like If I Stay and Where She Went, I was expecting this one to be a little more on the somber side; I was pleasantly surprised to discover almost the opposite. While Just One Day does have its sad moments, overall, it has a very hopeful and uplifting tone.

Just One Day starts off idyllically: right away, the charismatic Willem is introduced and Allyson (or "Lulu", as Willem calls her) is whisked off to Paris for one perfect day--until it has to end. Allyson wakes up the next morning to find that both Willem and her new-found sense of courage have disappeared overnight. When she returns back to America, heartbroken and embarrassed about her "huge mistake," Allyson returns to all the comforts of her life before her trip. It's only months later, after a disastrous first semester of college and failing to fit in that Allyson realizes that maybe being daring and courageous on that one day in Paris with Willem was the best thing she ever did for herself. Even though Just One Day starts off as a romance, it turns into Allyson's year-long search not only for the elusive Willem, but for herself--and who she was when she was in Paris.

One of my favorite things about Just One Day was the scenery. Allyson's story begins in Europe and ends there too; everywhere she goes (especially Paris), the setting is so well described I can almost pretend I've been there before. I loved all the people Allyson meets through her travels, too--each one of them brings a new perspective to Allyson's life as she moves through her journey. There's a little bit of Shakespeare throughout the story, and also some really great ideas about who we are as individuals--if the people we pretend to be in different situations are who we really are.

Just One Day ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I was very happy with how it ended nonetheless. The sequel Just One Year (told from Willem's point of view!) is set to come out in the fall, and I will be eagerly awaiting it when it does. Until then, though, I'm still stuck in a kind of wonder from everything in Just One Day. If you enjoy books about travel, self-realization stories, or you're just looking for a good read, I highly recommend Just One Day by Gayle Forman. 

Overall rating: 5 of 5 stars.

Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
The Darkest Minds #1
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Published December 18, 2012
Hardcover, 488 pages

Overview:

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

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who 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 a life worth living.

Review:

I didn't love The Darkest Minds. I had heard a lot of good things about this book before I started, so maybe my expectations were too high before I even started reading. I really wanted to love it, but I couldn't. That being said, I didn't dislike the book; The Darkest Minds falls into that gray, in-the-middle category for me.

I liked the premise: a dystopian where kids somehow end up with superpowers/strange abilities, are shunned from society, and eventually end up in "rehabilitation" camps. I particularly enjoyed the organization of the kids (based on the degree of their abilities; for example, Yellows can manipulate electricity, Oranges can manipulate people's minds), and how that played a role on camp life and throughout the rest of the book. The writing is fantastic; the story was believable and realistic, which isn't always the case when it comes to dystopian novels.

One of my biggest problems with The Darkest Minds was the main character, Ruby. Ruby never seems to really be after anything, and when she finally focuses on a goal, her reasons for it seem half-hearted or lacking in emotion and reason. I never could root for her because I felt like Ruby wasn't even rooting for herself.

Main character aside, I liked the other characters. The trio of Liam, Chubs, and Zu were, together, probably my favorite part of the book. The twist with the elusive "Slip Kid" took me by surprise, and the ending was something I wasn't quite expecting either. The book is left (very) wide open and nothing wraps up neatly, leaving lots to be addressed in future books. The Darkest Minds wasn't my necessarily my cup of tea, but I definitely think it's worth checking out, especially if you like dystopians or the idea of kids with superpowers interests you.

Overall rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Review: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
The Mortal Instruments #3
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published March 24, 2009
Hardcover, 541 pages

Overview:

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

Review:

One thing that really moves the book along (and something I really appreciated) is all the different point-of-views the story switches between. I thought City of Glass started off a little slow, and every now and then it would lose momentum because of all the description that was going on (describing new characters, what Idris looks like, etc.). Overall, I thought it was tad too long--the changing-perspectives aspect works, but it doesn't hide the fact that the story slogged at different times.

At this point in the series (Book #3), we're pretty comfortable with the characters and what's been going on. There's plenty of humor going on, which was nice because this book got pretty dark at some points. Most of the story is leading up to the huge battle at the end, and not everyone makes it out alive. We finally learn the truth about Clary's mom, Valentine, and Jace's past (FINALLY! We've only been hearing about this since the very beginning of City of Bones.)

Despite the occasional slogging (and the occasional whining from Jace--was it just me or did it seem like half of what he said was just him complaining about his situation?), I'm pretty satisfied with how City of Glass turned out, and how everything wrapped up in the end while still leaving enough open for the next few books. I'm interested to see where the series goes next!

Overall rating: 4 of 5 stars.

2013 Reading

Happy 2013! So many new books are coming out this year, and I also want to catch up on some of the books that I've been meaning to read for a while. Here's a list of what I want to read this year.

[ ] The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
[x] Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
[x] Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
[ ] The Crossing of Ingo by Helen Dunmore
[ ] The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
[x] The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
[ ] Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
[x] The Elite by Kiera Cass
[ ] Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty
[ ] A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
[x] Just One Day by Gayle Forman
[x] Legend by Marie Lu
[ ] The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson
[ ] The Maze Runner by James Dashner
[ ] A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
[ ] Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty
[x] Requiem by Lauren Oliver
[x] Sever by Lauren DeStefano
[x] Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
[ ] Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
[ ] UnWholly by Neal Shusterman
[ ] Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Selection #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published April 24, 2012
Hardcover, 327 pages

Overview:

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 hadn't heard much about The Selection before I started reading it, but the synopsis reminded me a little of Princess Academy--a bunch of teenage girls are trained to become the princess, one of them will marry the prince, etc. What amazed me about The Selection was that while the basic structure of the plot has been seen before, the overall story was very fresh and original.

The Selection takes place somewhere in futuristic North America after a fourth world war. The United States have been recreated into the kingdom of Illéa, whose social structure is based around castes. Ones are royalty; Eights are the mentally unwell and homeless. The main character, America (named after the spirited fighters who tried to keep the country from collapsing) is born a Five: her family works as musicians and artists. She has fallen in love with a servant from a family nearby, a Six. I particularly enjoyed reading about the specifics of the different castes; for example, Fours and Fives can get along well because they're just above the serving class, but it's unusual for two people to get married from different castes. Not much is revealed about the lowest castes (Seven and Eight) or about Twos and Threes, but I suspect we'll find out more in future books. (There's a list of specific jobs contained within each caste, located here on the author's website.)

One thing I didn't like about this book was the character Aspen, America's secret boyfriend, a Six. The two can't have a public relationship because they're from different castes, so they sneak out to meet each other at night. Even though his circumstances are out of his control and he only wants the best for America, I thought Aspen came off as super possessive. What infuriated me more is that America lets him act this way, claiming his actions just showed how madly in love they were. For example, when her family urges her to apply for the Selection, she refuses; when Aspen begs her to apply, though, she agrees to it just to make him happy. Around Aspen, America is very passive; around everyone else, though, America is stubborn, fierce, and opinionated.

That relationship aside, I really liked the book. I loved the prince, Maxon, and his friendship with America. There's some mention of rebels from different parts of the country attacking the palace; I'm sure that storyline will be explored more in later books. I had a little bit of an issue with the ending--I thought it was rather abrupt, given the mass number of things that happen very close together in the last fifty or so pages. Regardless, I really enjoyed The Selection and will definitely be picking up the sequel when it comes out!

Overall rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Review: Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Published November 13, 2012

Hardcover, 304 pages

Overview:

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question. 

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

Review:

The first thing that drew me to this book (other than the gorgeous cover) was the idea of a class trip to London. I'm a huge fan of YA romances in foreign countries (like Anna and the French Kiss, 13 Little Blue Envelopes), so I knew immediately that I had to read this one. I thought the city of London was described really well in Meant to Be--the characters are always running down famous streets or checking out iconic landmarks.

I found the main character, Julia, extremely relatable--almost to a fault. She's a stickler for following the rules and can't bear to go anywhere without a book in her bag, but most of the time, she lets these things get in the way of being adventurous and having a little fun. Half the time I was rooting for her, half the time I wanted to throw the book at her head. The character Jason was much of the same way--sometimes I wanted to yell at him to stop being such a jerk, the other half I was grinning ridiculously at something he did or said. That's what makes their relationship so interesting--sometimes Julia and Jason can't stand to be in the same room with each other, other times they're unbelievably cute together.

Overall, the plot was entertaining enough to keep me reading. I thought I knew how everything was going to end up, but the twist of events at the end of the book took me by complete surprise. While some of the other events were a little predictable, I was very happy with how the book ended. Meant to Be is a really great choice if you're looking for a quick, light read with fun characters and a fantastic setting.

Overall rating: 3.5 of 5 stars.