Reading The Riot Act

Friday 26 September 2014

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

All hail Leigh Bardugo. Honestly I adored this book. It has had many mixed reviews, mostly for every four 5 star reviews, there is one 1 star review. This is a 5 star review!

This book really reminded me of The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon but a much more accessible version. High fantasy can be really hard to get into and Bardugo makes it look easy.

Alina is a delightful protagonist, she can be a little annoying at first with her weakness and moaning about Mal but once her powers become clear and she becomes determined not to fail or let herself down, she becomes incredibly refreshing. Shadow and Bone takes all the great things from other YA, Dystopian and Fantasy books and mixes them together in a really fantastic, fresh way. It uses Russian Folklore and a huge twist to make itself stand out.

When we first met the Darkling, I admittedly was taken in by his charm, just like Alina. He seemed to really be a good guy if not a little driven and bossy. I never saw the change coming, I was honestly just thinking he was a little dark and mysterious and then it was like BOOM! Bad Guy!

Naturally once he was evil, my attraction faded. Prior to this though I had experienced nothing of Mal besides him ignoring her and sleeping around with girls. So the moment he came for her I was just overcome by gushy-loveyness. The Mal and Alina relationship became incredibly beautiful from that point and there were moments where I had to sit back and just take in such beauty.

Though the book was not only about the love triangle. There was a lovely friendship between Alina and Genya, and I thought her betrayal really helped highlight the hard decisions of a war. You could see her reasoning but also to betray her friend like that was just devastating and I had so many feels.

Overall the storyline was great, the world was so wonderfully built, we were just thrown in and yet everything still felt great and I could tell what was happening. The world was so easy to understand, it was incredibly vibrant and visual and was just so well written. The characters were beiaveble and they all had this great inner self awareness, there were subconcious parts of them which is really hard to achieve through writing and I adored it.

I can't fully explain my newfound passion for this series but I already bought to sequels and pre-ordered Bardugo's new series that comes out in 2015. Maybe that will help show how much I loved this series.

Happy Reading.

Wednesday 24 September 2014

the infinite sea

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey.

Louise Wilkes 11:58:00 0

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

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.

I had my reservations with the second book in The Fifth Wave series. I started reading and I struggled to remember who was who and what exactly had happened previously, at one point I even confused Ringer and Zombie but once all that was cleared up. I think this book was stupendously better than the previous.

The multiple POV's work so much more efficiently with their separate parts rather than named chapters. I do however feel like Cassie's is the weakest plotline, she very much takes a backseat and is more the voice of reason behind everyone else. Primarily we follow Evan (who's story is delightful and fun.) and Ringer, who is now by far, my favourite character ever.

I always thought she was badass in the first one and I aggressively ship her and Ben Parish. I think they are like perfect together, but her story was the one that pulled me in. It really says a lot about your writing talent if you can introduce a love interest in the last couple chapters, have them fall in love and then tragically kill them without it suffering the dreaded INSTA-LOVE! Cassie and Evan had always felt very insta-love to me but from the beginning, Razor is so her opposite and he s charming and relentless. It feels like it would be difficult not to have feelings for someone like that. So much time passes throughout these chapters and rather than skip to the part when you get to the emotion, you feel it change and develop and that was really beautiful. I even had to take a picture when I thought it was incredibly cute.

I mean, that is beyond adorable. Then we had the whole shocker of HE BETRAYED HER! I was physically upset on the train home. Rick Yancey is a master of breaking my heart because then he tries to convince her to flee and run, but obviously she won't until Vosch releases Teacup (After Ringer accidentally shoots her...long story.) Then when he tries to help her escape he is shot and presumable dead. Which is really annoying because Evan just won't die and we get someone we want alive and he's dead within 6 chapters.

I do also feel the need to mention the use of the phrase "The Infinite Sea" this is in no way a perfect book, Yancey reuses the same descriptions and images throughout but I don't care. I'm so connected to the character, it doesn't bother me. I will however question the big "reveal" I mean the whole idea that by simply telling people they have aliens inside them, means people will kill everyone due to some government/extraterrestrial cleanse of the world seemed a little crazy to me.

Evan turns out not to be dead as you can see and there really doesn't happen much plot wise with him and Cassie. The minor characters definitively took the wheel this time and it was refreshing. I mean Poundcake was like the MVP of this book. His story was so heartbreaking and his bravery just really touched me and from a character who has never said a word, it was really incredible.

This is no longer Cassie's story and as much as I loved Cassie in the first one, it's nice to see her take a backseat and Yancey to explore the backgrounds of others because they were beautiful, breathtaking and incredibly touching.

Also Sams is a dick in this book.

Happy Reading.

Wednesday 17 September 2014

review

Landline by Rainbow Rowell.

Louise Wilkes 02:35:00 0

Warning: Spoilers (duh.)

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now.

Maybe that was always beside the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.
When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.
That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .
Is that what she’s supposed to do?
Or would Georgie and Neal be better off ifs their marriage never happened?

I hated it. I absolutely hated it. I can't believe I hated a Rainbow Rowell book. I love her books, Attachments is one of my all time favourite books ever...but this book. I hated it.

It was monotanous and dull. It was so slow, Georgie gets up calls Neil, no answer, mopes around in her own thoughts for hours and then goes to bed. Then sometimes she'll have these awkward conversations with the kids (Whom I don't care about at all) and they are clunky and awkward and not at all nice to read. Neil basically disappears apart from his past self which leads to no explanation but does tell us exactly how the book will end...so I won't waste my time.

I have felt with Rainbows books that there is room for critique but I let it off because the story is so wonderful and it doesn't matter. But this book honestly did not care about any of it. It was D-U-L-L. Georgie doesn't seem to have a personality, I can't tell you what she's like and the relationship with her kids and husband seems pretty non-existent even though she keeps talking about how much she loves him. And honestly I thought Neil was a bit of an Asshole.

The whole thing where he dumped her cause she went to a "TV People Party" and he didn't know if he could put up with that forever but then said he could so proposed was ridiculous. It seemed kind of insane that he would pull this whole leaving her thing again, over the exact same reason. He knew what he was getting into. And I felt he was completely unsupportive, even in the flashbacks of anything Georgie wanted. She gets the dream she's been working towards for over 20 years and you have a bitch fit cause she'll miss one lousy Christmas? Then you go and start hanging out with your ex, grow up Neil. This entire book felt like 14 year olds dating, what they were doing was so immature.

I just have no energy for it. I was just screaming at Georgie and Neil throughout the entire book to stop being so ridiculous. Why doesn't he call her back? WTFH is that about? It makes no sense. The book is going for this magical realism thing and it would if characters actions matched their motivation.

I just can't even. I love Rainbow Rowell and I feel like a traitor but I honestly hated it. I was so bored and angry and I just feel exhausted from reading it.

I'm sorry Rainbow. I still love you.

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Word Nerding

The Book/Boyfriend Balance.

Louise Wilkes 14:38:00 0

You tend to find that when people get into relationships, friendships and family commitments start to slip or are neglected at the beginning of the relationship. Maybe this has happened to you or maybe you do it yourself. It's nothing to be ashamed of it happens, people get caught up and let things slide. Even I do it.

But I also do something worse.

Forget the neglected friendships or not seeing your family for days when staying at a significant others house. The thing I'm most ashamed of.

I neglect reading.

I've always been the kind of person who reads to escape. If I'm having hard time or am just bored with real life there is nothing better. But sometimes life is better than a book. Sometimes I am so busy having fun and laughing and being happy. I neglect my love of reading altogether. Don't get me wrong I have read since I got into this new relationship but not remotely at the rate I was prior to it.

This seems like an easy problem to solve but I am seriously having trouble trying to balance reading and relationships. It was never an issue before because I read before bed or when my friends don't want to hang out, but now I have someone who wants to be around me all the time. Someone who before I go to bed I want to talk to and engage with rather than talk to fictional people. Does this make me not a real reader? Sometimes I worry yes.

I'm trying not to be too concerned because these things take time and I've always been like this with relationships and soon enough the reading comes back. I get spare time with work and traveling to university. But currently I'm in the phase of feeling like a neglectful mother.

In any sense the only way to go is up. With my shoddy TBR! I will infact be reading Isla and The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins, Landline by Rainbow Rowell and If I Stay by Gayle Forman before I see the film.

I also aquired my Universoty reading list this month which includes:
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman
The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy.

So what could I do to help with this?
Any suggestions?
I could really use the help.

Tuesday 9 September 2014

trilogy

The Dustlands Trilogy by Moira Young.

Louise Wilkes 14:31:00 0

Warning: (Spoilers!) duh.

Blood Red Road

Saba lives in Silverlake, a wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms where her family scavenge from landfills left by the long-gone Wrecker civilization. After four cloaked horsemen kidnap her beloved twin brother Lugh, she teams up with daredevil Jack and the Free Hawks, a girl gang of Revolutionaries.

Saba learns that she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Saba and her new friends stage a showdown that change the course of her civilization

This was the book that made me fall in love with this series. It was initially hard to red because of the southern colloquial style but once I read a few chapters the accent just faded away. I thought Saba was very nasty at first but I also could easily see where the resentment for her sister came from. It was also wonderful to see that relationship adapt and change to were the resentment was finally put to piece and she started to protect and nurture her. I also like the development of her and Lugh's relationship, before she is outshone and hides in his shadow. He does everything and she is basically nothing but literally a shadow to him. When he is taken she finds her own strength and voice and I loved that. I also loved the death cage part of the story when Saba basically kicks everyone ass. It feels great to have a physically strong and ferocious female protagonist. It was an empowering and beautiful story based around familial relationships, and then there's also the love story of Jack. The cheeky arse who brings nothing but trouble and charm. It was an overall spectacular book.

Rebel Heart

Saba thought her world would return to normal after they defeated the Tonton and rescued her kidnapped brother Lugh. The family head west for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But a formidable enemy is on the rise. What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants?

This book was based around the search for Jack, in the previous book he had skipped off to find friends, planned to meet with Saba and then was never heard from...until a sudden message arrives. It was kind of hard to be without Jack straight from the off in this book as we had just fallen for him in the last one. Also the whole, he had a kid thing was like what?! I also was not a fan of the Tommo love triangle. Saba clearly wasn't interested and I think the whole thing was kinda pointless because everyone knew she was never gonna go for him. But then again we apparently get a new love triangle anyway, so it becomes a love square? parallelogram? I don't know. We then get the cringeworthy misunderstanding when Saba finds Jack thinks he betrayed them and loses her virginity to DeMalo, king of the bad guys. It was all a very crazy turn of events and I hated it. I thought it was so stupid and it could have gone somewhere so cool but no, we went for the banging the bad guy route. Goddammit! Also Lugh, throughout this entire book is just awful, he can't stand Saba finding her own feet and is nasty and resentful all the way through. I wanted to punch him.

Raging Star

Saba is ready to seize her destiny and defeat DeMalo...until she meets him and finds herself drawn to the man and his vision of a healed earth, a New Eden. DeMalo wants Saba to join him, in life and work, to build a stable, sustainable world…for the chosen few. The young and the healthy. Under his control.

Jack’s choice is clear: to fight DeMalo and try to stop New Eden. Presumed dead, he's gone undercover, feeing Saba crucial information in secret meetings. Saba hides her connection with DeMalo and commits herself to the fight. Joined by her brother, Lugh, and her sister, Emmi, Saba leads a small guerilla band against the settlers and the Tonton militia. But the odds are overwhelming. Saba knows how to fight—she's not called the Angel of Death for nothing. But what can she do when the fight cannot be won? Then DeMalo offers Saba a chance—a seductive chance she may not be able to refuse. How much will she sacrifice to save the people she loves?

Behold Ladies and Gentlemen, the worst final book in a trilogy ever. Nothing happens. Not really. We wait for the fallout from the last book. We get a slight tif and Saba and Jack sailing away together promising to try and fix themselves together. Great. DeMalo, for some reason is way obsessed with Saba gets her to marry him, and he dies at the ceremony, what a nice day. Lugh continues to be a nasty piece of work ad Emmi starts fighting and attacking crows and then...DIES! In what world, this is Prim all over again. I was touched by her death and the moment Saba agrees to marry DeMalo to protect everyone else. But she started off so badass and strong willed and for the whole final battle, changing the world thing, she did nothing but bang a guy so well that he wanted to do it with only her from now on. It drove me insane. I was so disappointed. I still mean what I said all those months ago. Fanfiction your own ending!

Monday 1 September 2014

wrap up

August Wrap Up and September TBR!

Louise Wilkes 04:54:00 0

Thanks to Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas, my book reading this month has been terrible, I've had the worst book hangover and spent all but a fortnight reading and re-reading the Throne of Glass series. I have no regrets. I did however read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and loved it (controversially) and It's not summer without you by Jenny Han.

Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas 5/5 Stars (FAVOURITED)
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 4/5 Stars
It's not summer without you by Jenny Han 3/5 Stars

I tried very hard to read Landline by Rainbow Rowell but I struggled to get through the beginning, but I will try and get through it in September as I'm sure I will love it. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan is being put on hold for now. I haven't quite gotten over Percy yet so I am not ready to start this new series.

Now onto my TBR for September, I am leaving it up to a surprise, my TBR's have been failing recently and I think because I've been feeling too much pressure to finish them and not letting myself read the book I've been wanting to read after buying them. This month I bought Isla and The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins so I would love to get into that this month or even The Finisher by David Baldacci. But I'm letting myself be free this month. I will however still pick from my TBR Jar when I start University again on the 22nd.

So what is your TBR?
Are you having a free month?
Will it help or will I need direction to read more?
Let me know what you think.

Have you read any?
Share yor thought?
But no spoilers...cheeky! - See more at: http://halleloujah.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/july-wrap-up-and-august-tbr.html#sthash.gBuctcXf.dpuf