Quick Review: Red Queen

Red Queen a very hyped, YA fantasy that I have been hearing a lot about and I was very excited to read it. It was not very impressed with the book. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't very interested in the story, nor was I engrossed with the characters, setting, or magic system, which are all integral parts of what makes a fantasy book a good fantasy book. 

The writing with very simplistic and easy to read. There wasn't a whole lot of depth in the characters. The "plot twist" was anticlimactic, when it should have been really cool and shocking. The main plot points and overall ambiance of the book held a lot of similarities with many other YA dystopians. A pretty girl goes from a thieving, poor background to becoming a princess in a couple of days (The Selection trilogy, anyone?). It felt very forced and unnatural that anything like that could have happened in such a strict society. 

Of course... of course... there was a love triangle. It was awful, and I hate that trope. The YA genre just continues to flog that trope, and it needs to stop. It wasn't executed very well. I didn't feel anything with Mare. It was very "telling instead of showing." (*Spoiler: At one point, Mare's brother dies. I don't feel like she was upset/angry about this, expect for texts that literally said that Mare was upset). 

There was an uprising from a group of rebels to take down the government (Hunger Games, Divergent, Red Rising, literally every other YA dystopian). Another trope used was how our protagonist is a new breed of human, that has never been seen before (Mistborn).

Overall, it was very simplistic and typical YA dystopian fantasy. There were a lot of re-used elements. I really hope it does get better. 

REVIEW: The Bone Season

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Genres: Adult Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Romance
Published: August 2013 by Bloomsbury USA
Pages: 452
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 7.5/10
Description: The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people's minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing. It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die. The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine and also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.

The Bone Season is a very rich and unique take on a dystopian future in which clairvoyants exist, and are pretty much hunted down and murdered simply for existing. I enjoyed this fantasy thoroughly!

One of the biggest flaws in this novel is the beginning and how slang and unknown terms are immediately thrown at the reader. I felt like I was never really introduced to the terms of this book, and I had to flip to the back dictionary a lot, which took a lot out of the story line. Once I did get a feel for the language and slang, the book did get much better, however the confusion that those terms cause will turn off a lot of readers. The beginning was certainly the weakest part, as the starting chapters should draw readers in, not turn them off. 

The story line stayed at pretty much the same level the whole time. I rarely felt super nervous or happy or excited or scared for these characters or for the situations currently happening. It wasn't boring, and I personally enjoyed the slower, less-dramatic prose in which Shannon writes, but for anyone who is bothered by it, the story starts the same level throughout most of the novel. Toward the end, it does get super fast-paced and thrilling. It is worth to stick around for it.

I LOVED THE ROMANCE. I do not even care what anyone else thinks. It was FANTASTIC.
*Spoilers Start* I was secretly rooting for Warden and Paige to get together and they did AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. *Spoilers End*

The world-building was very rich in the book, but I definitely wanted more of it! There is a map of the city and some descriptions throughout, which are very interesting, but I felt like I needed more from it. The bits of lovely world-building that we do get are fantastic. I loved the atmosphere that Shannon created in Oxford, especially with the slums and the main halls. The ambiance of mysteriousness in the woods was great, it felt like wild, beautiful, and dangerous all at the same time. My problem with the world was that Shannon focused a lot on Paige's mind and her stream of consciousness, which is all well and good, but the world was just so rich that interesting that I felt we deserved a bit more of it!

Overall, The Bone Season was a great fantasy read. It was super unique; I rarely read books on clairvoyants. The action, especially at the end, was extremely thrilling and played out like a movie. The romance was perfect and not over-bearing. It was hardly part of the novel, but the small role it played was fantastic. The world-building was rich and intricate, and I definitely was left wanting to know more about this world. Recommended to those who are looking for a unique fantasy that is slower-paced and interesting.

REVIEW: Catch You Later, Traitor

Catch You Later, Traitor by Avi
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Middle Grade/YA
Published: March 10, 2015 by Tundra Books
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 7.5/10
Description: The Collison's are an ordinary family, and Pete's a normal kid... until the FBI show up at his door and accuse him and his family of being Communists. Set in 1951, during the Red Scare - when the cold war was really beginning to solidify - this suspenseful, middle grade novel explores the impact of the War on an average American family. As Pete digs into his family history, using the sleuthing skills he's learned from Sam Spade and radio dramas, his world is rocked. Is his dad really a Communist, and his grandfather too? And what does that make Pete? Is that why his friends won't talk to him anymore? Based on the author's own childhood experiences, CATCH YOU LATER, TRAITOR explores the meaning of belonging, the pain of ostracism and isolation, and the power of paranoia and fear that so easily turns neighbour against neighbour. Written by Newbery winner, AVI.

Catch You Later, Traitor was a very engaging historical fiction Middle Grade/YA novel that is set in 1951 during the Red Scare. It has such a unique premise. I have not read any books, much less a YA book, that revolves around the Red Scare and it was utterly fascinating to delve into the paranoia and the fear that America was plagued with at this time.

The writing style definitely reminded me of the old Mystery/Detective books I used to read obsessively as a child. The protagonist, Pete, was a surprisingly complex character. He does undergo some character development which is fantastic for this genre. He is independent and inquisitive and is a great little detective. I loved how he is unabashedly sneaky and curious.  

Baseball was a dominant part of this story that sort of represented how our protagonist was doing at the time. Although I'm not a baseball person myself, I definitely appreciated how the stats were kept accurate and how all the baseball bits were exciting. 

Although the book is marketed as Young Adult, it could easily be Junior Fiction as well since the prose is very simple and easy to understand. 

Overall, Catch You Later, Traitor was a very unique mystery novel, that explored a very interesting part of history that was twinged with paranoia and doubt. It was also very reminiscent of the old mystery novels one used to read as a kid, which further enhanced my experience. Recommended to readers of any age, but specially younger readers as I think they'll enjoy it! 

THOUGHTS: Ms. Marvel

I

Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona 

Marvel Comics presents the new Ms. Marvel, the groundbreaking heroine that has become an international sensation! Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them, as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to bear? Kamala has no idea, either. But she's comin' for you, New York! It's history in the making. 

Ms. Marvel was a fantastic comic!

I am somewhat of a pessimist in terms of superhero comics as I think the genre is kind of tired and the majority of superhero comics have really dry, repetitive story arches. However, stuff like Ms. Marvel comes around every so often to revitalize the genre. 

The premise is so refreshing! As the lady at the bookstore described, "basically just if Malala Yousiefi was a superhero." 

I loved the art just in terms of the way Alphona captured faces. He draws the exaggerated and derpy face so well. It's quirky and adds a nice touch to the comic. 

The storyline itself was, admittedly, fairly predictable and relatively dry. However, it was super relatable and the little bits of pop culture scattered throughout kept me entertained. This being said, it is just the first bind up, it's only the first 6 issues. Since it's just an origin story esstentially, it's not that fair to judge it soley on plot. I hope in future volumes the story becomes better! 

REVIEW: Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography

Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris

Genres: Memoir, Autobiography

Published: October 2014 by Crown Archetype and Harper Audio

Pages: 304

Format: Hardcover and Audiobook

Rating: 10/10

Description: Tired of memoirs that only tell you what really happened? Sick of deeply personal accounts written in the first person? Seeking an exciting, interactive read that puts the “u” back in “aUtobiography”? Then look no further than Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography! You will decide whether to try out for Doogie Howser, M.D. You will decide whether to spend years struggling with your sexuality. You will decide what kind of caviar you want to eat on board Elton John’s yacht. Choose correctly and you’ll find fame, fortune, and true love. Choose incorrectly and you’ll find misery, heartbreak, and a hideous death by piranhas. All this, plus magic tricks, cocktail recipes, embarrassing pictures from your time as a child actor, and even a closing song. Yes, if you buy one book this year, congratulations on being above the American average, but make that book Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography!

So far, NPH has definitely been my favorite audio book of the year. It was a grand slam. He crafted his memoir with the bravado and artistry and one can only expect from such a man. He provided the reader with outlandish adventures in which you, the reader, is Neil Patrick Harris and must decide your biggest life decisions. Being an audio book (and not being able to flip back and forth between pages like a traditional Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book), it was very well structured. It took us from NPH's days a little toddlin' magician, to his days on Doogie, to his Broadway debut, and beyond! It was a wonderful, amazing trip.         

He provided great and kind of creepily awesome magic tricks (yes. He performs magic through the pages, using you as a puppet. It was magnificent). 

I especially loved the bits where NPH would discuss little details about his projects as an actor or performer. Sometimes, he will perform a little diddy which is always a pleasant surprise. When he started doing the tongue twister bit from “Dr. Horrible”, I almost cried. Other bits he performed included excerpts from his legendary Tony performances. 

I'm not sure how, but NPH has discovered a way to share his experiences chilling with Elton John, being a super gorgeous and charming heart throb, and winning a Tony, without sounding like an utter tool. He didn't come off as condescending or cocky or anything. He is such a stand-up guy and I love him and I loved his memoir. The best memoir I've listened to so far. Who DOESN'T loved Neil Patrick Harris? Real talk.

Also, a week after I listened to this book, I had a dream that I was Neil Patrick Harris dressed up in full drag as Hedwig. So, beware! *spooky music starts*

REVIEW: Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer

Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer by Vicki Lesage

Genres: Humour, Memoir
Published: May 2014 by CreateSpace
Pages: 232
Format: E-Book, Paperback
Rating: 6/10 
Description: 

Diapers, tantrums, and French bureaucracy--the crazy life of an American mom in Paris.
Former party girl Vicki trades wine bottles for baby bottles, as this sassy mommy of two navigates the beautiful, yet infuriating, city of Paris.
How does she steer a stroller around piles of dog poop? Or find time for French administration between breastfeeding and business meetings? And will she ever lose the baby weight with croissants staring at her from every street corner?
This hilarious memoir will have you laughing, crying, and wiping up drool right alongside Vicki as she and her ever-patient French husband raise two children in the City of Light.

Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer is an extremely well-structured and fun memoir that details an American woman living in Paris with her husband and starting a family- a wonderful premise. 

The story of the ups and downs of starting a family and finding an apartment was so great. 

For the most part, I did enjoy the more rambley parts of the novel, where LeSage goes off about something. She is a pretty analytic and a workaholic-type person, so some of stream-of-consciousness sections where she goes off about taxes or systems or something was off-putting. I'm personally not that technical or that inclined to mathematics and what not, so others may have enjoyed her technical rambles more than I personally did, but I digress. 

This memoir reads very much like a story, so if one hasn't read a memoir before, this is a pretty nice transition between fictional stories to real memoirs.

I wish that this book had more detail about the setting, because Paris is a wonderful place. I loved the sections discussing how small everything is (women, apartments, babies, ect.), however, I do wish there was more descriptions of Paris itself. Of course, it is a memoir so that doesn't really take anything away from the story itself.

Her voice is strong and often times, hilarious. I believe she captured the crazy mindset of a very pregnant women perfectly, as well as the American adjusting the a Parisian lifestyle. Her take on life and humans was poignant and funny.

Overall, if you are looking for a memoir encapsulating a woman's life in Paris and her journey to become a mother, this is a great memoir for you. It reads easily, like a story, with plenty of funny accounts to keep it interesting. Recommended.

*I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.*

REVIEW: Dealing With Devils

Dealing With Devils by Pembroke Sinclair

Genres: Paranormal Fantasy, YA, Romance
Published: January 2015 by Booktrope
Pages: 210
Format: E-Book, Paperback
Rating: 8/10 
Description: Dating a demon has its advantages, like helping deliver souls to Hell. Wait...what Katie’s world has been turned upside down. She's fallen for Josh—despite the fact that he’s a demon from Hell. Wes is finally out of her system and her life. Convinced she can change Josh, she sets out to make him a better person, only to find out things aren’t as simple as she’d originally thought. For one thing, Josh has Katie help him deliver souls to Hell, and she kind of likes it. And to top it off, other more powerful demons are battling for her soul, and revelations from the past could change the course of her life forever.

Dealing With Devils is the sequel to The Appeal Of Evil by Pembroke Sinclair, and this follow-up was so great. There will spoilers for the first book! 

This sequel was really unique. Usually when we have a protagonist caught up in a battle between good and evil, she usually chooses good. Katie chooses evil- I think that's really refreshing! In this sequel, we see Katie and the wonderful Josh go about their duties from Hell. We get to meet Lucifer, which was really cool. I hope that we get more Lucifer because I found that even though those scenes were super cool, they were fairly underwhelming. 

There are a lot of really cool discoveries and twists that we make the plot much richer. There is a lot of potential with one of the discoveries! There are definitely lots of elements that make the plot and storyline more exciting and richer than the first book. There is some backstory and legends that are told by Lucifer which was awesome. 

 **(Spoiler: it's that fact that Katie is a reincarnation of Lilith. That's so cool! I can't wait to see her explore the powers, and the pros and cons of being Lilith).** 

Since Wes wasn't in the book that much, and since Katie has made her decision very blatant, there was no love triangle nonsense! Which again, is just very refreshing. I also don't really like Wes so maybe that's why I liked this book that much more. Braden's character underwent a lot of changes for me. He went from just some annoying side character to someone who- what?- is kind of cooler than Josh? The hell hierarchy stuff is also pretty cool.

Overall, Dealing With Devils, was a satisfying sequel with a lot more discoveries and added elements that made the plot much richer than the first book. If the liked the first book, this one will not disappoint!

*I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.*

REVIEW: Spent Part 1

Spent - Part 1 by Elise Holland
Genres: New Adult Romance,
Published: March 2015
Pages: 110
Format: Kindle Edition
Rating: 7.5/10
Description: Luke Richards... the first time I laid eyes on him he was swinging punches at my boyfriend in the MMA ring. The way his glistening muscles writhed and flexed aroused me in placed I never knew existed. A week after I break up with my boyfriend, Luke strolls into my biology class at my college, as if by some divine intervention. He is immediately taken by me, but I can sense he has a dark past, one that rivals even my childhood. The more I probe, the more agitated he gets. As I spend more time with him, my own repressed memories start resurfacing. Will he finally be the one to release me from my painful past? Or will his demons catch up to him and bring us both down?SPENT - Part 1 is the beginning of an exciting New Adult, MMA Series from author Elise Holland.

Spent was a such a great new adult romance book! It was a super fast read with a lot of characterization and a super hot romance. I was left needing WAY more! WHERE IS PART TWO?

Tasha was an okay protagonist. She was relateable and her actions are very believable. However, she is definitely the most boring character in comparison to the other fantastic characters this book has. Luke was so hot and gentle and sweet and funny and he was a perfect choice for a love interest. Cameron was so sassy and clever and definitely brought some hilarious comic relief. I love the unique relationship with this English teacher and a young 21 year old Tasha. It's fairly rare and I liked that sort of big sister dynamic between them. I would like to see more of them together! The writing was good. It was humorous when it needed to be, I loved the little pop culture references with FMA, and all of the great innuendos. Spent reads very easily and smoothly. The descriptions are really and vivid, whether did be a boxing match, a saucy scene, or even Twizzlers. It was fantastic.

The story itself was simple but interesting enough. I like the University setting and all the scenes with the fighting matches.

The romance was so steamy and great. I love the contrast between Luke's love scenes and Derricks. I love how one can definitely see how conditioned Tasha is to being abused and neglected and now happy she is to have Luke. I need more please!

*I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.*

REVIEW: The Appeal of Evil

The Appeal of Evil by Pembroke Sinclair

Genres: Paranormal Fantasy, YA, Romance
Published: January 2014 by Booktrope Editions
Pages: 210
Format: E-Book, Paperback
Rating: 6/10 
Description: Katie, a senior in high school, is torn between loving the "good" guy, her childhood friend Wes who makes promises he doesn't keep and abandons her when she needs him the most, and the "bad" guy, the new kid at school Josh who is also a real demon from Hell. Katie wants someone who pays attention to her and puts her first, but what is she willing to give up to find him?

The Appeal of Evil is a great, fast-paced paranormal romance! It reads super easily. Although Evil doesn't have too much action, there was just enough of character building to keep it interesting.

I felt like there was too much of an instant romance, especially in the beginning. The beginning is, in my opinion, the weakest part of the book. It was too romance-heavy, too quickly. There was a lot of telling instead of showing in the beginning part, which I understand because there were a lot of introductions made, but I felt like it was too expository in that sense. I also found faults in how the author tried to portray Wes. I didn't feel any real emotion or feelings of affection from him. The only times I felt like Wes actually cared about Katie was when Katie would state, "I know he cares for me," or the like. I know this is to keep his stoic and the remain true to his duties as a Praesul, but his character simply fell flat for me. 

I am pretty much a huge fan of the the "bad-boy" trope, so of course I was rooting for Josh the whole time. I guess I did sort of got what I wanted in the end, but I really hope that Josh goes through more character development in future installments as I love his character. Also, for some reason I envisioned him with a British accent the whole time? Odd, however, I did enjoy his character all the more.

The world-building was mediocre. It was super interesting, especially the brief adventure into Hell, however, for the most part, there was little-to-no world building. This is forgivable because it is a romance and an urban fantasy but I really do hope we get to explore more into the world of Praesul and Demons in future books.

Overall, it wasn't a perfect read at all, but it is a quick, paranormal fantasy that was simply a fun ride! There is a bit of action and some romantic intrigue to keep the story super interesting. Definietly recommended for those looking for a quick, fun read!

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins because of the urban fantasy setting and the romance. Also, there is a bad-boy demon in which our protagonist falls for (and Kaiden has a British accent)!

*I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.*

REVIEW: I'll Give You the Sun

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson 

Genres: YA, Contemporary, Romance

Published: September 2014 by Dial Books

Pages: 371

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 10/10

Description: Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

This radiant novel from the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once

This gorgeous, beautiful, haunting, hilarious, poignant, vibrant, and touching (and other adjectives that I left out) is the first book to make me honestly and genuinely laugh out loud and sob loudly. This is not just a book; it is art. 

I'll Give You The Sun is this brilliantly woven and carefully crafted story of family, tragedy, love, and loss. That may have sounded cheesy and clique, but I don't think I can conjure up the right words to describe this book. It is both depressing, yet imaginative and uplifting. It captures the very fibers of humanity and passion in a clear-eyed and vibrant manner. This is the perfect contemporary book. It is perfect both for young adult readers, and beyond. It has the honesty and sincerity of a child and the sober reality of grown-up problems. 

Nelson also adds a lot of tidbits of knowledge: 

“Or maybe a person is just made up of a lot of people,” I say. “Maybe we’re accumulating these new selves all the time.” Hauling them in as we make choices, good and bad, as we screw up, step up, lose our minds, find our minds, fall apart, fall in love, as we grieve, grow, retreat from the world, dive into the world, as we make things, as we break things.” 

Jandy Nelson's prose is a gift; it is whimsical and and vivid, and mournful and wistful, all at the right times. The characters all had such distinct voices. They all felt real and authentic. 

This book deals with a lot of sensitive and prevalent issues with finesse. The love that these characters have and the passion they have for each other, whether it be romantic or family, felt so strong and so real. When the puzzles and pieces came together, I felt like cheering loudly, but instead just sort of smiled through my tears. 

This part made me gasp and squeal and put the book down:

“In a flash, we're through the door, across the street and into the woods, running for no reason and laughing for no reason and totally out of breath and out of our minds when Brian catches me by my shirt, whips me around, and with one strong hand flat against my chest, he pushes me against a tree and kisses me so hard I go blind.” 

And my personal favorite quote:

"I'm so happy I'm not a horse!"

I'll Give You The Sun is honestly a masterpiece. I do not cry during books. I didn't shed a tear reading Fault In Our Stars or Perks Of Being a Wallflower or The Book Thief or any other wonderfully depressing novel. However, I cried out of happiness and sadness and relief throughout this book. I honestly surprised myself. It was just so genuine and wonderful. Please, do yourself a favor and read it. 

Next To Normal, because both are absolute pieces of art that showcase family drama and other prevalent issues in the present day. Both capture emotion and love and rage and the very fragile state of a humans mind in a time of tragedy in such a captivating manner. Both are wonderful. If you haven't seen or heard NTN, please do! I had the soundtrack in my brain throughout reading I'll Give You the Sun which simply depressed me further. Wonderful.

GOOD-READS UPDATES:

03/08	marked as:	currently-reading
03/09	page 200		53.0%	"Prose is so vibrant and the characters are so distinct."
03/10			100.0%	"I AM IN TEARS. I never cry whilst reading books. Like ever. This is such a beautiful story. I am going to jump off a cliff. I dO NOT EVEN KNOW! I even went into this book thinking I would be disappointed because of all the hype but IT BLEW ME OUT OF THE FREAKING WATER. JUST family drama and tragedy and love and relationships and the very essence of passion and humanity were captured SO BEAUTIFULLY."

REVIEW: Mistborn

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson 

Genres: Fantasy, Adult
Published: July 2006 by Tor Fantasy
Pages: 657 
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Rating: 10/10 
Description: Once, a hero arose to save the world. A young man with a mysterious heritage courageously challenged the darkness that strangled the land.
He failed.
For a thousand years since, the world has been a wasteland of ash and mist ruled by the immortal emperor known as the Lord Ruler. Every revolt has failed miserably.
Yet somehow, hope survives. Hope that dares to dream of ending the empire and even the Lord Ruler himself. A new kind of uprising is being planned, one built around the ultimate caper, one that depends on the cunning of a brilliant criminal mastermind and the determination of an unlikely heroine, a street urchin who must learn to master Allomancy, the power of a Mistborn.

Brandon Sanderson is consistently receiving shining reviews from me because he consistently pumps out amazing books. I've read some other books by him, but clearly not enough. Mistborn was an amazing read and is by far my favourite read of 2015 so far! 

The world-building is to die for. The city of Luthadel and its outlying regions were described so vividly, yet just subtle enough that it didn't take away from the plot of the story. From the ash, to the plantations, to the deep pits and beyond, the world was beautifully crafted and my whole reading experience was very immersive and wonderful. 

This being said, the magic system in this novel is absolutely top. While there were lovely, slower-paced parts in which I got lots of back-story and lore that enhanced my experience (such has Sazeed's parts concerning religion and the log book), and there were also these crazy, action-packed scenes which I believe Sanderson writes beautifully. Sanderson is so good at writing action scenes that feel like a movie in my mind. The physics and science is accounted for as well, keeping the magic system both exciting and complex. 

The characters were so lovable and had so many layers of depth. It wasn't always good vs. bad, there was a lot of overlap. The motivations of each character weren't always obvious and often there were hidden reasons for why characters did what they did. Kelsier, the mythic rebellion leader, with this charismatic and easy-to-love nature had inner demons, our protagonist Vin still surprised me with her backstory and her personality. Mistborn has a colourful troop of characters, each of them are diverse and interesting.

Also, possible spoilers, but the last 100 pages or so had SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS. I gasped and cried and yelled and laughed. Everything came together, and then fell apart, and then a huge secret was revealed that made so much sense, then everything was destroyed again. I left Mistborn so satisfied. Brandon Sanderson is a WIZARD. That's the only explanation. How does someone create such vividly beautiful yet subtle and clever works consistency without magic? Perhaps he is using some form of literary Allomancy. Whatever it is, I need to go read more. I cannot recommend Mistborn more. 

Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss simply because of the beautiful prose and the scientific and intricate magic systems built up in both books.

REVIEW: Drag Racing’s Quarter-Mile Warriors

Drag Racing's Quarter Mile Warriors by Doug Boyce  
Genres: Technology, Non-Fiction, Cars
Published: CarTech, August 22, 2014
Pages: 192 pages  
Format: Paperback
Rating: 8.5/10
Description: Drag Racing's Quarter-Mile Warriors: Then and Now takes a unique look at the most memorable, interesting, and successful cars from this golden age of drag racing.

Drag Racing’s Quarter-Mile Warriors by Doug Boyce is a high-quality, highly informative, and overall fantastic book. I myself am not a drag racing buff, although I can marvel at some amazing cars. My father is pretty into it, and has some vintage car models on display, and a friend of mine is pursuing a career in car stunt driving, so I am pretty exposed to the world of cars.
I am very impressed with this book, which is pretty much a plethora of gorgeous pictures and fascinating information about the history of drag racing, as well as iconic dragsters, and influential drivers. It was super to get into, with easy-to-understand passages, and glossy, vibrant photographs, it was an absolute joy to flip through this book.

While it is pretty easy to read through, the detail that went into the information was not abused. The comprehensive history behind the evolution n of the cars and the sport, was impressive. One can tell that Doug Boyce did his research, and his passion for it really does shine through. Boyce does an excellent job in telling the history and current whereabouts of ionic drag cars, and explaining all the details. The updates as to where these legendary classic cars are at today were an awesome touch!

This is a great, high-quality, and interesting book. It can be a nice coffee table book, for guests to pursue, or a great addition to a vast drag-racing library. Doug Boyce did a great job with this book! I recommend it to everyone who would like a glimpse at the interesting history of drag-racing, and especially to the drag racing buffs out there; it would be a huge treat to those!


 This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!

REVIEW: Twisted Reflections

Twisted Reflections (The Adventures of Alexis Davenport) (Volume 2) by Shay West
Genres: YA, Science Fiction
Published: July 23, 2014 by Booktrope Editions
Pages: 190 pages
Format: E-Book
Rating: 6/10
Description: Alexis Davenport is learning to come to grips with her ability to travel through time, but she still hasn’t been able to stop the evil Drifter and his Master from trying to alter the past. When she travels back to ancient Egypt, Alex gets a most unexpected surprise; she meets someone who can help her figure out how to use her powers, another Traveler like herself. But can Alex learn how to control her gift before Drifter finds a way to stop her from meddling in his Master’s plans?

 This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!

Time travel is one of my most favorite elements in literature, so of course, I was ecstatic when I received Twisted Reflections to review. Basically, Alexis is a typical teenager, that get's pulled back in historical times to inhabit someone else. Her purpose is to protect the time-line.

The Characters? Alexis was a very stereotypical teenager dealing with very stereotypical teenage problems. The main problem I had with the novel was that it was very teeny-boppy, which ruined a lot of the exciting, action-packed time travel scenes. Of course, it is a young adult novel, and Twisted Reflection’s audience is aimed for young teenage girls, so I can’t hold that against the novel too much. This being said, Shay West captured the teenage girls mind pretty well.
In terms of character development, Alexis matured and evolved both emotionally and intellectually, which is refreshing to see in a YA.

The Setting? Since Alexis time travels, we got to see a lot of rich, vivid, and descriptive scenes throughout history. I loved the culture I felt through this book!

The Plot? It was okay. The time travel scenes were action-packed and fun, but the other horribly mundane problems (driving permits, dances, boyfriends, ect.) which are part of the story are sometimes very grueling to get through.

Overall, it was a pretty good YA read! I love time travel, so I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the book. The writing was descriptive and vivid, which I loved! However, some parts were too teeny-bopper for my taste, but I’m sure that some people might think it’s a good blend of young adult and science fiction. I’d recommend it!

TAG: The Ultimate Book Tag

Yay! A book tag! This tag was created by Books With A Bite at:
 bookswithbite.net/book-tag-the-ultimate-book-tag/
 

1. Do you get sick while reading in the car?
That, my friends, depends solely on the quality of the book. If it's a really good, engaging book, I'll forget all about my pending motion sickness.
2. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why? Roald Dahl. He was the first author ever to leave me mystified the entire time I was reading his books. Not only is he an amazing author, but he is just an amazing story-teller. The characters and creatures and stories that he could conjure up, are just so colorful and vivid and lve so brightly in the minds of all his readers.                                                                                                         
 3. Harry Potter Series or the Twilight Saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer.
Harry Potter, because 1. Wizards 2. Important life lessons and values 3. Wizards
4. Do you carry a book bag? If so, what is it in (besides books…)?
Cell-phone, Nintendo 3DS XL, lip gloss, wallet, annnnnd books. I’m currently harboring a beautiful edition of Emma by Jane Austen.
5. Do you smell your books?
Yes. I am a proud book sniffer. Books smell awesome, you guys. They smell like of courage, wisdom, and power... and no, I did not just name the three parts of a omnipotent Hylian relic.
 6. Books with or without little illustrations?
Illustrations are the best! From maps, to just doodles, to full on graphic novels, illustrations can make a book so much better.
7. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?
John Green’s books. Specifically, Paper Towns, which was my first Green novel. This was when I had a huge manic pixie dream girl phase and I loved them.
8. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
Well, one time when I was a pudgy 3rd grader, I was in the library (as I always was) during lunch. I was browsing books with a couple girls and I came upon The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wider. I picked up the massive thing (because to a 3rd grader, that thing was a tome) and said aloud, “The Long Winter... More like The Long Book!” and set it down, chuckling to myself. Nobody else laughed, but for some reason I thought it was the funniest joke I’ve ever made. It has stuck with me to this day.
9. What is the thinnest book on your shelf?
A Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
10. What is the thickest book on your shelf?
I have an omnibus of all of Shakespeare's works. But if you count a single book, then The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien takes the cake. Wait, maybe Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Both are pretty massive beasts.
11. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
I love writing. I don’t know about an author or anything like that, but I know that no matter what career I choose, I will be writing no matter what. Whether it be in blog, journal, or book form!
12. When did you get into reading?
When I came out of my mother’s womb and promptly requested a copy of The Catcher in the Rye.
13. What is your favorite classic book?
A Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde OR Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Dorian Grey is just so awesomely neo-gothic and creepy and Jane Eyre is just so empowering with it’s hints of early-feminism annnd it’s also pretty gothic. I just realized that I enjoy gothic classics that have someone's name as the title.
14. In school was your best subject Language Arts/English?
Yes. Well in elementary (primary) school, English was always my best subject, but in high school, maths was my better subject. Meh. I always enjoyed English the most.
15. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated…what would you do?
I would brag about how well-read I am and that I have already read that atrocious, sad excuse of literature and sit back stroke my pencil-thin mustache and laugh into a glass of wine while I twiddle my pipe between my fingers. But seriously, I would say thanks and donate it ASAP. Unless it had pretty binding. In which case, I might keep it.
16. What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games?
Well, I don’t see how Harry Potter and the Hunger Games are similar to each other much less how I can possibly find a series that could be similar to both of them. Since I find this question ridiculous and I won’t respond to it.

 
 (But a good underrated series is Twilight... Have you heard of it?)
17. What is a bad habit you always do (besides rambling) while filming?
I flip my hair. Back. And. Forth.
18. What is your favorite word?
Indubitably. As in, indubitably, indubitably, is my favourite word.
19. Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb? Or all of the above?
None of the above. I am a Queen.
20. Vampires or Fairies? Why?
Vampires because Fairies can get really annoying.
21. Shapeshifters or Angels? Why?
ANGELS. Because Cas.
22. Spirits or Werewolves? Why?
Werewolves. Because they are super hot. Like, how much fun can you have with a spirit?
23. Zombies or Vampires?
Zombies because I already chose vampires and I don’t want vampires to get a big head.
 24. Love Triangle or Forbidden Love?
Forbidden Love because love triangles are so annoying. I mean, there is one person who was two choices! TWO CHOICES. I mean, choose one! There’s only two choices!
25. AND FINALLY: Full on romance books or action-packed with a few love scenes mixed in? I would enjoy an action-packed love scene. Bow chicka wow wow. *Careless Whisper starts playing*

I hope you enjoyed my painfully low quality replies to this tag... I TAG YOU, PIKACHU!