Action packed and well written just like the first book. I enjoyed this one slightly less because of a few things. (view spoiler)[ I didn't like how iAction packed and well written just like the first book. I enjoyed this one slightly less because of a few things. (view spoiler)[ I didn't like how it was revealed that Archie and Gretchen had an affair before everything happened, it felt like it didn't quite fit with the first book. (hide spoiler)]...more
It seems like these books just get progressively better. This book had some great fight scenes and I really liked the parts about the golem, they didnIt seems like these books just get progressively better. This book had some great fight scenes and I really liked the parts about the golem, they didn't distract from the story at all. (The stories of Grimluk and Paddy "Nine Iron" Trout did this a lot more in the previous books.) It was good to see him more as a character than as just a joke in between the other parts of the story. ...more
I struggled with the rating for this book, having trouble deciding between 2 or 3 stars. I settled on 3, because while it really wasn't a bad story, iI struggled with the rating for this book, having trouble deciding between 2 or 3 stars. I settled on 3, because while it really wasn't a bad story, it just didn't grip me at all.
I think this is largely because of the characters, there's quite a cast of them, and while they all have some unique character traits, I didn't grow attached to any of them. I didn't care about the romances that were starting between them and I didn't care when (view spoiler)[one of them got shot, which is a bad sign. (hide spoiler)]
The book definitely had it's exciting bits, and the action is really well written, but I felt like the main character's emotions were a little bit too detached from what was going on for it to feel realistic. I also didn't really like how little acually happened in the grand scheme of things, it just felt like it was leading up to a bigger story. This makes sense, since it's quite a long series of books, but I still feel like it should have had more of an individual story.
I most likely won't be continuing this series, this book just didn't make me care enough about what's going to happen next. ...more
I enjoyed the first part of Incarnate a lot, which is largely because the reincarnation idea was a really cool concept. But once that had been establiI enjoyed the first part of Incarnate a lot, which is largely because the reincarnation idea was a really cool concept. But once that had been established and the story moved onto the actual plot, the book went downhill incredibly fast.
There was so much potential with the mysterious city, the dangerous creatures and especially the reincarnation but the book never explored any of this, instead it devoted pages and pages to an incredibly boring romance. If I wanted to read a romance novel, I would pick one up. I've come to accept that almost every young adult book has romance as a large part of the story, but it should never overshadow the rest of the plot.
The romance itself felt very flat and unrealistic, Sam kept sneaking off and keeping secrets from Ana for no good reason but she never gets angry about it or calls him out on it. There's also the issue of age, because Sam has been reincarnated countless times, his mind is like 5000 years old. The relationship between him and 18 year old Ana becomes weird to me because of that, even if their bodies are the same age. It's actually discussed a few times, like Ana thinks to herself about the possiblity that he would have had a much older body at this time and how she wouldn't have been attracted to him, even though in that scenario his personality and soul would have been exactly the same. It just seems awkward.
If I had to summarize this book, I'd say it's a badly written romance and a missed chance to explore a very interesting idea. ...more
I'm surprised by how much I loved this book and I wish I had read it sooner. The story is set in a really unique and interesting world and it's a greaI'm surprised by how much I loved this book and I wish I had read it sooner. The story is set in a really unique and interesting world and it's a great twist on the classic Cinderella story. Prince Kai is one of the few YA love interests that doesn't annoy me to death, he seems like a nice and normal guy (despite being a prince) instead of being brooding, handsome and perfect.
(view spoiler)[ Though I did see the twist where Cinder was the princess coming, it didn't annoy me as much as I feared it would. Maybe because I know she won't be the (only) main character in the other books. (hide spoiler)]
I really liked the way it ended and I hope we'll get to see more of the world in the other books.
Uglies was really good in some ways and really bad in some others. It kept me interested through the entire story but it also irritated me at times.
I Uglies was really good in some ways and really bad in some others. It kept me interested through the entire story but it also irritated me at times.
I really liked big parts of the world building and the way the message reflects back on our current society and current beauty standards. A lot of the concepts in this book were really well thought out and nicely written.
Unfortunately, it becomes a little hard for me to believe in the worldbuilding when a lot of it has such silly names. Names for places like "New Pretty Town" or "Uglyville" are hard to take seriously, even in context.
I also felt very frustrated with the main character at times. (view spoiler)[ At first it made sense that she kept lying to everyone but there came a point where she kept using the same excuses over and over and it started to get tedious. A lot of trouble could have been avoided if she had been honest earlier. (hide spoiler)] Also I was sad that her friendship with Shay was ruined because of a boy and also about what happened to Shay's character afterwards. I really hope she gets fixed and they make up because there isn't enough young adult fiction with strong female friendships.
The last thing that bothered me a little bit was that it was slightly predictable at times. (view spoiler)[ I saw the "big reveal" about the brain modification coming from the start, it was obvious from seeing her friend Peris. Another thing that was pretty obvious to me was that the Specials would be alerted if she damaged the necklace, as soon as she did it I knew what was going to happen. (hide spoiler)]
Despite my annoyances with parts of the book, I really did like how it ended. Tally finally made up for lying all the time and it'll be interesting to see where it goes from here. ...more
If I had to describe this book in one word, I would use weird.
Even after finishing it, I don't feel like I understand the mythology, society and magicIf I had to describe this book in one word, I would use weird.
Even after finishing it, I don't feel like I understand the mythology, society and magic system in this book. It was confusing and felt sort of disjointed and strange.
I felt no connection to the main character, she was annoying and kind of stupid at times. I also didn't like either of her love interests, there was no chemistry anywhere in this story.
There were some interesting concepts in this books, but none of them were utilized very well in my eyes....more
A bit of a disappointment. Across the Universe had it's good parts but as a whole it was painfully predictable at times. I saw certain things coming fA bit of a disappointment. Across the Universe had it's good parts but as a whole it was painfully predictable at times. I saw certain things coming from the start of the book and it was frustrating that the main characters didn't realize it until the end.
Elder wasn't really likeable to me. He seemed to dismiss Amy a lot and it was hard for me to see how she liked him so much.
(view spoiler)[Another thing that bothered me greatly was the pretty graphic attempted rape scene. It was completely unnecessary and incredibly uncomfortable. It's also barely mentioned afterward so I don't get the point. Throwing in rape scenes to cause drama or conflict is cheap and annoying. (hide spoiler)]
Despite my negative review, I liked enough of the book to continue the series and find out where it's going. The concept of the story is nice, I (mostly) like Amy, and there's a lot of potential for the future. I just hope I like the second book better than the first. ...more
It surprised me that I liked this book slightly better than the last two. It still had a lot of the same problems and a lot of the character drama felIt surprised me that I liked this book slightly better than the last two. It still had a lot of the same problems and a lot of the character drama felt very forced (the entire Magnus and Alec bit through all 3 these books felt weird to me, though I'm glad there was no resolution to the immortality thing.) but I still thought it was slightly better than I expected. I'm probably going to read the upcoming books. I'm afraid that despite my better judgement, I'm a little hooked on this fictional universe. ...more
Funny crossover. I like how they worked together though I wish they had been more open with eachother, even if it makes sense that they wouldn't be.Funny crossover. I like how they worked together though I wish they had been more open with eachother, even if it makes sense that they wouldn't be....more
This book and the last are basically "The Jace Lightwood Show" and it's getting tiring. I don't care about him or his evil/good drama. (view spoiler)[This book and the last are basically "The Jace Lightwood Show" and it's getting tiring. I don't care about him or his evil/good drama. (view spoiler)[Honestly, if we were supposed to care about him possibly dying this entire book (because of his ~special link~ to Sebastian) he really should have been made more likeable. Instead, I kept wishing they'd just kill both and be done with it. Of course, now at the end he's even more special than before so I doubt the next book will focus on anyone but him too. (hide spoiler)]...more
The first few moments of this book were a little confusing. You get thrown right into an action scene and there's a lot of worldbuilding information tThe first few moments of this book were a little confusing. You get thrown right into an action scene and there's a lot of worldbuilding information to take in right from the start. As soon as I got into the book more, though, I absolutely loved it.
Stranger is, in my opinion, everything a post apocalyptic young adult novel should be. The world building was very well done, I loved all the strange and dangerous plants and animals. I also adored every single pov character immensely and their storylines were very nicely tied together. There was tons of diversity, which made the story feel very natural and realistic. I loved how there wasn't too much focus on the romance. It was there but it wasn't hugely dramatic and didn't take over the story.
One last thing I want to mention is that the descriptions of food in this novel were amazing. I was constantly hungry while reading it and I wanted to try everything!...more
I'm a little bit conflicted about this book. There were many parts that surprised me with how good they were, I enjoyed the world building for the mosI'm a little bit conflicted about this book. There were many parts that surprised me with how good they were, I enjoyed the world building for the most part and didn't mind the main character most of the time. The Society was pretty interesting and I thought the matching had a lot of potential.
The problem I have with Matched is that none of that potential is fully lived up to. In a society where most people are matched with strangers to marry them, the biggest issue the author could come up with for the main character is that she has two hot boys that she knows and that like her and she has trouble choosing? This could easily have been made into something deeper, showing how relationships like that can be dangerous or just plain wrong and maybe play in on the fact that not everyone in the world is straight.
Instead, (so far) we see not a single unhappy match and we get a love triangle/romance plot that takes up a lot of the plot. I didn't feel anything for Ky and thought his past was kind of predictable.
Another thing I didn't like was how Cassia would suddenly jump to big conclusions about the Society without much evidence and always be right. If she's going to figure these things out, you could make her find some proof to build it up some more, instead of making her remember random things from the start of the book and suddenly realizing what was really happening. (view spoiler)[ Like with the food on her grandfather's feast. I totally called that, though. (hide spoiler)]
The ending was pretty good though, it seems like the second book will go in a different direction and I'm curious enough to read it. ...more
While I really liked the concept and setting for this story, the actual plot disappointed me a little. It took a long time for anything to really happWhile I really liked the concept and setting for this story, the actual plot disappointed me a little. It took a long time for anything to really happen, and when it did, it wasn't that spectacular.
Rhine spends most of this book sitting around, thinking, and talking to other people in the house. There's some mystery going on about the basement and her new father in law but we never really get answers. While we're in her head a lot during the story, we don't really get close to Rhine. I didn't feel like I knew her very well or that she was really developed in any way.
One other thing I didn't like was how the author tried to show Linden in a sympathetic light. We find out he doesn't know about the horrors that happened to get him his wives and the things his father does, and I can accept that much. But I still can't like a character that is 20 years old who marries and sleeps with a 13 year old, no matter what the circumstances might be. I'm not saying something like that can't be put into a story, but don't try to make me like the person because I won't.
The ending made me excited for the next book because it seems like it will be very different, it's nice to finally get out of that house and see more of the world. ...more
This book had some promise at the start. The first half of the story had it's problems but it was also interesting. I didn't like how the MC treated oThis book had some promise at the start. The first half of the story had it's problems but it was also interesting. I didn't like how the MC treated other women who were interested in sex (at one point she just refers to them as "sluts" or "skanks") or how she occasionally adresses the reader directy, which is incredibly jarring, but I was able to live with it for a while because the story had potential.
But then in the second half of the book almost nothing interesting happens. The story gets taken over by this love story between her and Win, who aren't supposed to be together but still are in secret. It's a story that's been done countless of times and it was very boring and bland. Win wasn't very interesting and I couldn't really understand why Anya liked him enough to risk her family's safety.
Another thing that bothered me a lot is that Anya's best friend starts dating Anya's ex boyfriend, the one who at the start of the book attempts to sexually assault her. She isn't exactly happy about it but at the end she sort of accepts it and it infuriated me that her 1. her friend would do that and 2. Anya wasn't worried about her in the sligthest. She only saw it has her friend beraying her personally.
Also, the ban on chocolate was just kinda silly. ...more
We really did not need another story in this universe about how special Jace or Clary is and how it affects others around them. There were decent partWe really did not need another story in this universe about how special Jace or Clary is and how it affects others around them. There were decent parts of this book but also a lot of things that annoyed me. One thing I really can't get over is (view spoiler)[ the whole "Kyle" situation. Maia's backstory in the first books was good, it showed us an abusive relationship and how it tied in with the supernatural stuff of this world. Honestly, it was completely fine as it was. But even if Cassandra Clare really felt the need to reintroduce the guy that hit and bit Maia, she could have at least made him a bad guy. Instead we get a character that barely fits with Maia's earlier memories and descriptions who has now "turned for the better" and "wasn't really that bad" The message that this sends to young girls that read these books is really disturbing, especially if he gets back together with Maia (which I suspect he will)
This is only one of the things that annoyed me but it was probably the biggest one. I also couldn't help but be annoyed with Alec for being so upset that Magnus has dated/been with a lot of people, honestly, what did he expect? I get the storyline where he's upset that he'll die while Magnus is immortal but that only seems to be part of his problem. (hide spoiler)]...more
This book in combination with the Infernal Devices has convinced me that Cassandra Clare is in fact capable of writing interesting stories in this uniThis book in combination with the Infernal Devices has convinced me that Cassandra Clare is in fact capable of writing interesting stories in this universe. It seems that as soon as they're not about Clary and Jace, her stories get more depth and the characters get more attention. It helps that Magnus is one of her more likable characters, but the storylines and other characters are also a lot better in this book.
Because of this book, I have decided to finish the last 3 books of the Mortal Instruments as well, in the hope that they're better than the first 3 and more like this book andthe Infernal Devices Series. Even if they're not, it now seems a shame not to just finish the whole thing.