Reading The Riot Act

Wednesday 29 October 2014

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Warning: Spoilers! (Duh.)

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

After the Delirium series I really didn't know what to expect from this book. The blurb seemed incredibly unrealistic and I couldn't figure out how it would work, so I put off reading it. This, makes me an idiot.

This book was incredible. Heather is this wonderfully flawed and likeable character. She's smart and determined but also kind of a pushover and obsessed with some asshole who clearly doesn't care about her. But I was rooting for her. She suddenly gave a huge middle finger to the world and just fearlessly went for it. It was like no matter what was thrown at her she just did it, and that doesn't even relate simply to the game Panic.

Her relationship with her sister was beautiful, the neglectful mother and them becoming homeless was heartbreaking because it was written so realistically. It wasn't fanciful or like everyone would be able to tell because nobody guessed, most had no idea and I loved it.

Bishop, oh Bishop. I knew immediately e was a judge, which was disappointing because I would have liked a big gasp moment, which I got, but we'll get to that. He was incredibly charming and after Heather being all with Matt I mean, I just loved him. I understood his journey.

Dodge was a tricky one for me, there were so many things to like, his love for his sister, his love for Nat, his disposition but he was also a nutcase, he tried to kill someone and almost got Heather killed in the process, when Nat gave Heather his keys - that was my GASP moment! I was so terrified. This book had me physically reacting, it was so immersive.

Nat however, hated her. I thought she was whiny and weak and led people on. She didn't seem to understand the idea of consequences and there isn't really any character development for her. She was this kind of steady annoyance and it wasn't going to change.

The actual game of Panic I found very interesting, in the book it actually made sense which I didn't expect. A secret group of seniors plan it behind the back of authority. It worked, I mean I wasn't sure what to expect but it worked.

Overall my favourite thing was the message. Messages can be preachy in books so authors have to be careful. But Lauren Oliver succeeded in creating this moment in which we know things are okay now and they won't be okay forever but when things aren't okay, everyone will stand together nonetheless. It was really lovely. Really nice ending, incredibly peaceful and I put down the book and felt resolved.

Absolutely wonderful read.

Happy Reading.

Friday 24 October 2014

sarah j maas

Cover Reveal: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas.

Louise Wilkes 06:29:00 0

When nineteen-year-old Feyre plucks a forbidden rose from the ground, a wolfish creature arrives to punish her for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from stories, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin, a High Lord of the faeries. And as she learns more about him, her feelings for Tamlin transform from hostility to a fiery passion. But the threats against the faerie lands are growing, and Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse . . . or lose Tamlin forever.

I mean, it's beautiful. I think anyone who has glanced at this blog knows how much I adore anything by Sarah J Maas but my god it a beautiful cover. I cannot wait until people start cosplaying that dress.

The thing is, it's all still very mysterious. The cover doesn't tell us much which is great and neither does the blurb really. I know it a retelling of beauty and the beast, it's a trilogy and it is due out May 5th 2015, so not that far away. So this book will get is through the long wait for Throne of Glass #4 and I have high expectations for it.
How could I not?!
I mean it's gorgeous and it's by this incredible woman.
Better get my pre-order in!

Happy Reading.

Tuesday 21 October 2014

three stars

The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien

Louise Wilkes 09:04:00 0

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

Whisked from his comfortable hobbit/hole by Gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon...

I'm afraid I am about to be a buzz-kill for all Tolkien fans. This is not a review.
This is smack talk.

I did not like The Hobbit. I thought it was too simplistic, too easily laid out that I didn't need to pay too much attention or think for myself because the story is literally told to me. Having a story simply told to you, is boring. I didn't particularly connect with any characters. It seemed like Tolkien spent more time trying to make his characters symbolize something rather than be someone we actually care about. And honestly it felt like Bilbo was only doing things because Tolkien wanted him to not because the character actually wanted to do it. I was definitely not impressed.

Now it wasn't all bad, it was a submersive and incredibly high fantasy world which was beautifully constructed and really pulled me in. It was well thought out and Tolkien knew it so well that I can't help but admire the imagination an creativity. But the characters just weren't there for me.

I am aware that unlike LOTR, The Hobbit is a children's story, which could explain the tell don't show tone Tolkien has gone for. I am an adult woman who does not read children's books so maybe that's the problem, but I just didn't are about anyone, that's why it was so easy to kill them all off at the end, because no one cared. I did love the Gollum riddle scene though.

MOVIE COMPARISON TIME

Does this need to be 3 books? No way in hell. The dragging out of this story is exhausting and once you've read the book you can see how much Peter Jackson has changed. He has made a much bigger deal about very short sequences in the book and even just made up characters and stole some from LOTR to make it more exciting. You know why? Because we need characters we care about, if the movie was exactly like the book there would be minimal character/audience relationship. So maybe Jackson did the right thing. Yeah, that's right, I said it. I prefer the film.

For all the Tolkien fans out there, what am I missing?

I will be reading LOTR soonish.

Happy Reading.

Friday 10 October 2014

ruin and rising

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo.

Louise Wilkes 07:49:00 0

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for

What an ending to the series. I really struggle to think of other trilogies that are consistently as good as the other books. I can't think of one book in the series that stands out as the worst. And the fact the ending was satisfying is even better.

I think what really grounds this series is Alina. The 1st person perspective is so perfect because she really leads the way. Its her journey, her emotions and relationships that we care about. It's her emotional struggle that drives the narrative and what really gives this series a really well round, touching but fun feel.

Another really strong force behind these books is the character development. Mal changes dramatically throughout the series, he starts incredibly self-involved. He let Alina take punishments for him and never even bothered to notice her until she was gone and then finally we get to this point where he is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. He gives up anything he can and that is a really tremendous journey to be a part of. Then we have the Darkling, we learn about his and Baghra's past. To say it added new layers to the character is an understatement. It completely changed the way I saw him. I had a lot more empathy and understanding for everything he did and even got his thought processes. Genya and David and Zoya all have these wonderfl B-story transformations. But then we get to Nikolai.

In the second book Nikolai enters and he doesn't change much in terms of character development until the latter part of this final book. After being transformed into one of the Darkling's creature. He finally becomes a king. It was accepted that he would not be able to properly rule without Alina, he never understood torture or sadness or feeling completely hopeless, although he sympathised, he never understood. Then when he is cured and returns, he has this level of understanding and you can finally see him become a king. Not the happy go-lucky, it will work out in the end king. But someone respected, feared and someone who understands his people. I thought this was a beautiful narrative, I mean, its really horrible to read terrible things happening to characters you like, but there's nothing more reassuring than seeing trials and tribulations and seeing them become exactly who they need to be. That really stuck out for me.

I wasn't too keen on the Morozova storyline. I understood the ties and thought it was a great twist that Mal turned out to be the firebird. But I also just didn't care. I was assured enough that Mal would survive and they would be together blah, blah, blah. But I really loved the epilogue. Bardugo has these Before and After chapters that are written in third person. And the ending was just beautiful. It made me feel the way Mockingjay made me feel . Everything wasn't okay, people had died and they had both lost things but life still had the capability for beauty. It was a simple and elegant ending but just the way it was written was so endearing and charming, like finally the world was at peace and you could feel it. Not because she said so but just because the writing was so poetic and calming.

I adored this book and this series and I cannot recommend it enough. I demand you give it a read and join The Grisha!

Happy Reading.

Friday 3 October 2014

shorts

The Witch of Duva & The Too-Clever Fox by Leigh Bardugo.

Louise Wilkes 01:10:00 0

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

There was a time when the woods near Duva ate girls...or so the story goes. But it’s just possible that the danger may be a little bit closer to home. This story is a companion folk tale to Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel, Shadow and Bone.

I had no idea what to expect from this short story. I have to admit I am glad that it is merely based in the world of Grisha rather than following the characters in there. This story started off as a very fairytale like in a village in which girls are being eaten by a mysterious force in the woods. It is basically a re-imagined version of Hansel and Gretel. I was not expecting that ending though, its incredible though because there were so many clues and I didn't even catch on, such wonderful writing.

The story follows Nadya (In 3rd person), after her mothers death, girls begin to get eaten in her village, soon her father remarries, to a woman she is convinced is evil and behind the attacks. A series of unfortunate events (ha) lead her straight to the door of the Witch of Duva. There is an incredible twist on who is killing the girls and I won't spoil it for you because that is the best part of this story. The thing about this is that it just shows that Leigh Bardugo can write, no matter what the length and even with new characters, she can still create exciting, touching stories that lead you somewhere then throw you on your ass halfway through. Just genius.

In Ravka, just because you avoid one trap, it doesn't mean you'll escape the next. This story is a companion folk tale to Leigh Bardugo’s upcoming novel, Siege and Storm, the second book in the Grisha Trilogy.

The Two-Clever Fox is another rewritten fairy tale short story from Bardugo, only this time is loosely based around Little Red Riding Hood. Bardugo is really good at plot twists, I cannot describe enough how I can never tell where the story is going and yet she drops clues and lays it out so it all makes sense. This time we find a hunter who is believed to have the power of a witch, in order to let him be silent through the trees and leave no tracks. The Too-Clever Fox befriends the Hunters sister who is forced to wear a grotesque, patchwork, cloak of furs, and they plot to take him down. Once again I will not reveal the ending because as always that is part of the fun. I could read these forever. They are so ingeniously written and such an original take on the fairy tales that it just blows my mind.

I was however expecting a little bit of information on Nikolai as Alina does describe him as a Too-Clever Fox when she first meets him, but maybe there was something underlying I just didn't get. Anyway I highly recommend and on with more books.

Happy Reading

Thursday 2 October 2014

wrap up

September Wrap up and October TBR!

Louise Wilkes 01:35:00 0

After a really terrible reading block couple of months I am finally back and ready to party.This month I read 5 books and am currently halfway through 3 others.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
The Too Clever Fox by Leigh Bardugo.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman.

I imagine I will have all of these plus Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo read by next week so you can happily look forward to that. I will also be doing a Grisha short story review as well as they are just delightful. So not a bad month for reading I think.

This month however apart from cracking on and finishing these books I will also be pulling a last month and just reading whatever takes my fancy. I find I can be in the mood for different books at different times, so we will see. I am hoping to start Isla and the Happily Ever After or maybe even a little Hemingway this month. Or maybe the Lux series or possibly the Shatter Me series.

There are so many books in the world, how do I choose?

This month will not only be reviews however, I have also acquired a great number of books and shall hopefully be doing a BookTour post, with my many many books. (It will probably be in parts, from now until Christmas.)

So that is this coming month, of course I am full of plot twists so I'll keep things a little fresh as well.

Happy Reading.

seige and storm

Seige and Storm by Leigh Bardugo.

Louise Wilkes 00:29:00 0

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Every well read Word Nerd knows how a series goes. We read second books with trepidation, not getting our hopes up due to the dreaded 'Second Book Syndrome.'

With every second book we can make some assumptions. A love connection made in the previous book will fall to tatters. The protagonist will doubt his/her power and one character will have a complete and incredibly sudden personality overhaul. Admittedly all of these happen in Siege and Storm but then again, it works.

I feel like all these 'Second Book Syndrome' constructions authors use over and over until readers are so tired of them, we beat ourselves in the face with the book (hopefully it's a paperback.) are all used because this is what they hope to achieve. They want to clinging to the edge of my seat, is everything going to come together? jump up and down with excitement feeling that we get when this structure works and goddamn does it work!

Naturally Mal and Alina struggle to make there relationship work but to be fair even in the first book I didn't feel like their relationship would be easy. She starts off too insecure, too grateful that he would want to be with her and he enjoys being the powerful and attractive one. No relationship can work without both people having the opportunity to grow and change. So of course once Alina becomes incredibly powerful and sought after and busy, Mal stamps his feet about it. There's this beautiful scene where they argue and he asks her to go back to who she was before everything happened she says she can't and he says if she could,would she give it up?...and she refuses. This doesn't seem like a beautiful scene but there is a certain elegance for standing up for yourself and this really marked a crucial moment for them I thought. After that and the kiss with Zoya, their relationship will never be the same, who knows for better or worse?

Speaking of Zoya, personality overhaul anyone? She very much the Celeste (The Selection by Kiera Cass) of this series. She stunningly gorgeous and of course all the men want her but she also a raging anti-other women bitch...apparently. I feel that woman have a tendency to be demonised by other women in fiction and it annoys the crap out of me. And then suddenly that character has to have some "development" and stops being a total A-Hole. The girl who always followed the Darkling wasn't even invited to join him and so he just murdered her family by expanding The Fold? It all just seemed a little unbelievable for me but then again it was also nice to have someone to fight against Alina in this book. Not in the same way the Darkling does but someone on her side who won't put up with her crap and Zoya definitely fit the bill.

Then we have the visions Alina keeps having of the Darkling that make her doubt her power. She takes a second amplifier, from an awesome Water Dragon might I add, and starts seeing him everywhere and feeling him and basically begins to doubt her own abilities to own all the amplifiers and still, control her powers without losing her mind. You wanna know why this worked? because it wasn't the main plot, this was no Spiderman 2, all based around doubt. This was Alina getting ready to go to war and feeling scared, worrying about letting people down and failing. It was a small narrative within the larger narrative and it really, really worked.

This second book also came with what might be some of my favourite new characters. We have awesome fighting, sun saint warriors Tolya and Tamar. I've always been a sucker for a really badass girl who just shows up to beat the crud out of people, but pair her with a smart Hodor-esque twin and I'm in. You had me at Hodor. Then we have Nikolai who is just utterly the most charming character I have ever read. I adore him and ship him and Alina so hard I may burst a blood vessel. The only problem is I don't trust him, with the whole Darkling switch up in the first book I'm now looking at everything about new characters and seeing them as signs they are evil. This book has given me serious trust issues.

Now, because this plot was so good I am not going to tell you what happens, I know without a doubt that people read these reviews even when they haven't read the book and I so don't want to spoil you on how it all turns out, just dear god read them, they are really incredible pieces of literature and my heart was pumping so hard all the way through. This is a very exciting series and it takes you in so many directions and just throws emotion and world building and beautiful, real characters at you in one 300 paged shot to the brain. Read it.

Happy Reading.