Review: Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean

ISBN: 9781477849408
Format: E-Book
Source: ARC from author
Series: Stand-Alone (maybe)
Released: February 10, 2015
Length: 323 pages
Goodreads  |  Amazon

     SUMMARY

Chloe has one plan for the future, and one plan only: the road. She’s made a promise to herself: don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone love her. She’s learned the hard way what happens if she breaks her rules. So she’s focused on being invisible and waiting until she can set out on the road—her dream of freedom, at least for a little while.
Blake Hunter is a basketball star who has it all—everything about him looks perfect to those on the other side of his protective walls. He can’t let anyone see the shattered pieces behind the flawless facade or else all his hopes and dreams will disappear.
One dark night throws Chloe and Blake together, changing everything for Blake. For Chloe, nothing changes: she has the road, and she’s focused on it. But when the so-called perfect boy starts to notice the invisible girl, they discover that sometimes with love, no one knows where the road may lead.

     REVIEW

It's been a while since I've been in the blogging game consistently, but anyone who's anyone knows I am a Jay McLean Fangirl of the most obsessive kind. I've read every one of her books, and if you haven't tried at least one, this is me telling you that you should. Where the Road Takes me was McLean's first stand-alone novel (which may or may not stay stand-alone... just sayin'...). I was thrilled for a new McLean book, but nervous at the same time. I'd read her first four books which were all part of a series (More Than series) and loved them, and I knew Where the Road Takes Me was going to be pretty different. Not only the fact that I would be reading about different characters, but the entire feel of the book would be different since it was an entire story in one book, not four.

When I got my ARC copy a couple weeks before release time, I hunkered down and finished that baby in two days, which is a mean feat for me these days since I've slowed down on my book intake in recent months. I was sucked right in by Chloe and Blake's story and read almost three-quarters of it on the first day.

Jay's writing, in general, is great, and while I do sometimes have my issues with it, she has steadily progressed in her skill as a writer and it's been a privilege to watch that happen over the course of five books. In WtRTM, she did not fail to deliver and I was so glad that, even with as different of a story as it was, I still fell in love with it all.

I found myself boohoo-ing through the better portion of the book, as tends to happen when "McLeaning", and Chloe's story really broke me. Chloe was not always a likable character and sometimes hard to understand or identify with. With that being said, I always appreciate an author who doesn't create perfect characters who never make mistakes or don't have flaws. So for Chloe's flaws, I commend you, Ms. McLean. And the few Blake had, too. But Blake = <3, so it was easy to ignore his faults.

As with some of her other books, sometimes the plot in Jay's books can get a little funky, leaving you wondering what the heck is going on until it picks back up and fixes itself, but one flawless characteristic that is common among all (now) six of her books is her ability to make me adore her characters. Especially her supporting characters (ahem, Josh) and make them feel like a family I am privileged to be a part of for a short while.

I did feel as though the ending was a bit rushed which took away from the story for me a bit. We saw years of Chloe and Blake's life go by before the epilogue even came and I wished we could have gotten a deeper look at those scenes rather than an overview.

Either way, rushed ending notwithstanding, I fell in love with Chloe and Blake, Josh and Blake's mom, Chloe's entire family... it was hard to let them go at the end of the book, and when I heard trickles of rumors that there may be another book, well, needless to say I was thrilled. I can't wait to hear more on that, and the other books she has in the works.

     THE BREAKDOWN

RATING: ★★★★ - 4 stars!

I don't think a book needs to be perfect to be great. I have come across various issues with many books, McLean's included, and still found reasons to adore them, just like I adored Where the Road Takes Me. Sometimes her stories veer into the cheesy, sometimes the endings are rushed. Sometimes the shocking scenes seem a bit unbelievable. But never have I not fallen in love with a protagonist or supporting character presented to me by that woman or not been touched by her words and ideas and the relationships she creates.

She has a passion for what she does and even more than that, she is a great person which, to me, makes all the difference. Those of you who've stopped reading books by "authors behaving badly" understand the exact opposite of that spectrum and when an author is behaving like an amazing human being, they deserve all the respect and attention in the world. So hey, give Jay McLean a try and you might just thank me if you look past the occasional typo and delve deeper into the worlds and relationships of Jay McLean. I think you'll find something worthwhile there if you do.

Happy Reading!

A.

Review: More Than Her by Jay McLean

ISBN: 9781494205942
Source: Purchased
Format: Kindle eBook
Series: More #2
Released: 2013
Goodreads  |  Amazon
*Please note this review may contain spoilers for book one in the series. See my review for More Than This here*

     SUMMARY:

"For every action there is an equal or opposite reaction."
For every choice you make there are rewards,
or there are consequences.
It was my choice to walk away the first time.
And my choice to chase her the second.
But sometimes you don't get a choice,
and all you get are the consequences.

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
Unless that someone is Logan Matthews.
Because loving him didn't give me
the strength to walk away.
It didn't give me
the courage to fight for him.
And when it was over,
all it gave me was a broken heart.

     REVIEW

I managed to read this book in one day (same as I did with the first in the series, More Than This). I think this speaks volumes for the book all on its own considering I usually take a bit more time than that, but don't worry - I'll give you plenty of other reasons why you should go read it.

I went into More Than Her with low expectations - it's about a character from book one that I actually happened to hate. You'd never know it now, but I hated Logan Matthews before reading this book. In the first book, he was arrogant, obnoxious, only seemed to care about himself - oh, and add in that he was a womanizer, screwing chicks left and right like it was his JOB. I couldn't stand him. Logan's lucky he was funny, because didn't think I could deal if he had no redeeming qualities. So then I find out he has a book - which means someone was about to make him settle down right? Correct...ish. Please take that statement with a grain of salt. MTHer is nothing like what you're expecting.

Jay McLean not only manages to completely change my mind about the preconceived notions I had regarding the main character, but she makes me love him, deeply - you know, if being in love with a fictional character is possible.

Not only are there hella plot twists and heart-wrenching moments that simply took my breath away; not only did Jay McLean manage to make me crack up laughing seconds after I finished ugly crying, but she managed to build me up - all the way freaking up - and then knock my ass right down. This book left me an emotional mess and I thank the heavens that I read these books when I did,with the ability to order the next one on my kindle immediately after finishing this one.

Trust me - if you're reading paperback, you're going to need the next one handy. If you're reading via e-book, please have at least $3.00 handy to order the next one the very second you finish this one. This is not an exaggeration. You will thank me for this advice one day.

On top of all of this, I think what Jay did with this book (and the series as a whole) was very unique and perfect for the way things played out. There's a very intense feeling that comes along with reading these books and Jay's fans have formed a very tight-knit "Moremunity" to work out these feelings (because therapists cost too much).

MTHer is my favorite book out of the four in the series, not because of the actual things that happen, but because of the FEELS. I've never been so emotional over a book before. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that if you haven't read any of these yet - please do it now! You won't regret it.

RATING: ★★★★ 1/2 - Loved it!

MTHer is one of my favorite books so far this year! The tiny little issues I had with the book don't even warrant mentioning at this point. Just know that there is basically nothing that can keep you from loving this book if you give it a shot. I adored it and I adore Logan Matthews and one day when I find out where the human manifestation of this beautiful specimen has been hiding himself, he is all mine! DIBS!

Have you read this book or any of the books in this series? What did you think? I bet you loved Logan just like I do! And if you haven't read them, I know you will love him just as much.

Let's talk books!

A. 

P.S. In non-More related news, I'm giving away a paperback copy of If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Giveaway ends July 7, 2014, at midnight. Enter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

ISBN: 9781595145376
Publisher: Penguin Group [USA] Inc.
Release date: January, 2012
Series: Across the Universe #2
Page Count: 416 pages

     GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

GODSPEED WAS FUELED BY LIES. NOW IT IS RULED BY CHAOS.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. Everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to act on his vision--no more Phydus, no more lies. But when Elder learns shocking news, he and Amy must race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed, all the while dealing with the love that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

Beth Revis catapulted readers into the far reaches of space with her New York Times bestselling debut, Across the Universe. In A Million Suns, Beth deepens the mystery with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: THEY HAVE TO GET OFF THIS SHIP.

 

     REVIEW:

*If you havent read the first book in this trilogy, do not read this review. It contains spoilers for Across the Universe. For a spoiler-free review of AtU, click here*
 

WHAT I LIKED:

• Writing, characters, world building, plot, general everything - still amazing.
• Slightly more romance in this second installment, though the book still definitely didnt need it to be awesome.
• In my opinion, Elder developed a lot and slowly changed from a rebellious teenager into a true leader.
• Revis still kept throwing curveballs at me and though this one was slightly more predictable than the last, I was still blown away by certain things.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

•  It wasnt until this second installment that they finally addressed Amy almost being raped by Luthor and the impact it had on her. It was a severely traumatizing event that was largely ignored after the initial reactions. I will say that I think when it was finally addressed, the reactions and thoughts were probably accurate, though.
• A little bit slower than the last book, but maybe this was because the shocks were fewer and less mind-blowing (thank God).

     THOUGHTS:

I started this book the day after I finished Across the Universe and I was dying to read it, then I finished it in three days, which is unusual for me lately. I was not disappointed! I loved this sequel, though it did move slightly slower than the first book and was somewhat more predictable, it was interesting, filled with mystery, further building of the world known as Godspeed and general craziness. I dont think I have a lot to say about this book other than I loved it!


     RATING: ★★★★ 1/2

4 1/2 stars for this one! I loved it and it added so much to the trilogy! I've already started reading Shades of Earth and I cant wait to find out what happens on Centauri-Earth!

Have any of you read this one or Across the Universe? What did you think? Agree or disagree?

A.

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

ISBN: 9781595143976
Publisher: Penguin Group [USA] Inc.
Release Date: January 11, 2011
Series: Across the Universe #1
Page Count: 417 pages

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

 Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

      REVIEW:

WHAT I LIKED:

• I was drawn in by the story within the first few pages and I was hooked the whole way through.
• The writing, plot, characters - everything - just flowed so perfectly together.
• The futuristic words, e.g. "frex", "shite", "uni", "brilly", "vits", etc. At first I wasnt sure how I felt about them because they seemed a little silly, but I think they made the story unique and added to the world building.
• Many people complained that the cover of the book and even (somehow) the blurb made this seem like an epic romance. I went into this expecting the opposite because of reviews and the cover, and I didnt miss the lack of epic romance one bit. The story was perfect without it.
• Full of social and political issues. Some may think this is a flaw because not everyone wants politics in their for-fun reads, but in this day and age and the way the world is changing, its refreshing to see a young adult book that addresses some issues like race, religion, government, war, etc.
• Revis was extremely detailed, even in the sickest, most disturbing scenes. She is a master writer and though some of it made me sick to my stomach, I am still in awe.
• The world building by Revis is something to be rivaled. I am so fascinated and intrigued by life on Godspeed that instead of reading a new book from a different series, I've decided I'm powering right through this trilogy and starting book 2 tomorrow.
• This book delivered surprise after surprise after sur-freaking-prise. I can honestly say that this one was throwing me curveballs until the very end.
• Character development? What!? Loved Amy and Elder, even Eldest was a great antagonist. I love that Revis gave us some insight into minor characters as well. Oh... Harley. :/
• Last but not least, and I just wanted to throw this little one in - Revis' writing is so amazing. She even somehow made me feel sympathy for one of the antagonists! How?! How Beth Revis, do you do this to me!?

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: (at this point, is there even anything? I feel like I am grasping at straws)

• This is labeled as a young adult book, but the only reason I think it is is because it has teenagers as MCs. Some of the themes in this book are pretty adult, which is okay for some teenagers, but there were some scenes, vividly described, that even I had to put the book down for a few minutes. So parents, be careful before letting your teenager read this one.
• When Amy wakes up from being frozen (not a spoiler, she obviously cant be frozen the whole book), she describes the inhabitants of Godspeed as having a strange accent. In my head it is a mix between gibberish and an Irish lilt to their voice. Can anyone help me? The book does NOT describe this very well, so if anyone has any idea of what it actually sounds like - please enlighten me.
• There were a few times - and only a slight few - that Elder seemed weird to me. Maybe it was his dialogue that was a little off. Or his reactions to certain things. Maybe it was just me. It was only a few times, but the rest of the book was so well put together that it was enough make me wonder, but not enough to make me drop the rating by any means.

     DISCUSSION:

Normally this section is called "Summary" because I usually just take a few sentences or a paragraph to sum up my thoughts. I only changed the title for this review because I am afraid I may begin to ramble or go on for much too long. For this, my friends, I apologize. :)

When I picked up this book off my TBR shelf, I only grabbed it because I really couldnt pick anything else to read. By page 5 I was so pleasantly surprised and 4 days later, I was shocked to my core. I havent felt this way about a book in quite a while - I had been steadily losing steam and only reading out of duty. I wasnt truly enjoying reading so, thank you Beth Revis for nudging me back into my love of reading all over again.

I guess I never really realized how much I liked sci-fi. And I mean really extra sci-fi novels. Like The Giver, which is one of my favorite books. I love that book and I dont know how I didnt know this was a love of mine. So many people were upset about the lack of romance. It was somewhere around the last chapter of the book when I finally found myself wishing for some romance. The entire book wouldve been perfectly fine with me if Elder and Amy had no prospect of romance. That is how awesome I think this book was that I dont think it needed the cliche love story.

Also, this is a very political read, bringing up the likes of population control, birth control, promiscuity, "monoethicity" or a master race, etc etc and et.cet.er.a!!! Oh, am I gushing now? I must be, at this point. I am not one to gush, I dont think so anyway, but upon finishing this book I was laying in bed beside my fiance and I kept putting the book over my face and saying "wow" or "oh my God, is this happening?" It is not often that a book makes me even speak out loud or marvel at the occurrences in a novel.

This book was so much more than what I was expecting. Thank you Beth Revis - thank you, thank you!

     RATING: ★★★★★

I absolutely loved this book. Dont get me wrong, there were some (though few) things I disliked about this book, but they were inconsequential to the fact that I literally read this book during every free second I had, and I havent finished a book this fast or enjoyed one this much in months. Loved it! I cannot wait to start reading the next installment, A Million Suns tomorrow and then finally Shades of Earth within the next few days. I recommend this to sci-fi and dystopian lovers who dont need a romance to complete a story for them.

Have any of you read this book? I know many readers loved this, but also some did not mainly because of the political aspects and the lack of epic romance as portrayed on the original cover. Did you like it or dislike, agree with me or disagree? I would love to hear from you on this one!

A.

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

ISBN: 9780373210268
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release date: April, 2011
Series: The Goddess Test Series #1
Page count: 304 pages

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

"It's always been just Kate and her mom - and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld - and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy - until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

If she fails..."

REVIEW:

     WHAT I LIKED:

• This book gripped me emotionally within the first 10 pages and I was hooked.
• Carter's writing is beautiful. I read a few reviews on this one saying her writing was elementary and too simple. I thought it was more along the lines of straightforward and I connected very well with the story.
• I liked that though Kate was "broken", she was the stronger one in this story - emotionally, I mean. Henry was the vulnerable and wounded one though many feared him. It's nice to see a female character who pursues a man (one that isn't a cheating, lying asshole - cause girls pursue guys all the time. Just not the right ones.)
• This book was based around Greek mythology, but I connected to the characters as separate people, as humans, not just Gods and Goddesses.
• I also saw a few reviews saying that none of the characters acted like their godly counterparts and they couldn't tell who was who. I beg to differ - I knew James, Ava, Diana and Phillip immediately, and only had to look in the back to verify or check for a few of them. Though that may be because I spent so much time researching while reading the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan.
• Henry's attitude toward Kate. I know, I know, shouldn't I hate him because I feel bad for Kate? For some reason, it seems realistic to me and that's what made me like it - not necessarily the pain or heartache between them or whatever. Do you know how many people out there spend their lives with one person while very well knowing that there was once a person they loved much more? Its sad and horrible, but I think some of you may know I dig the difficult subjects and things that tug at my heartstrings, such as not-quite-requited love.
• Unpredictable but not in a bad way. I was able to tell who was who and I wasn't so confused by the God/Goddess thing that I couldn't keep up, but there was still the element of mystery. I'm usually good at figuring out whodunit long before the book is over, but this one kept me guessing almost until the very end.

     WHAT I DIDNT LIKE:

• Kate was just all of a sudden okay with leaving her whole life behind to live with Hades, and though she recognized that it was crazy, she kind of just went along with it. It didn't seem totally realistic.
• I was confused throughout the whole book as to whether the characters that I knew to be Gods and Goddesses also knew who they were. I had a sneaking suspicion that things would end up the way they did, but it was confusing trying to figure it out throughout the book.
• I did lose a bit of my connection in a small part in the middle of the book, mainly when Kate is studying and the weeks are skipping by as she spent time with Henry. I think the book could've been a little longer and Carter could've spent more time on showing HOW Kate and Henry connected and ended up at the point they did.
• I don't like the way the book ended in that James told Kate that things would "be different" between her and Henry, James, friends, etc. I know that they get to act like Gods/Goddesses now, but I liked them as they were!
• The seven deadly sins thing - I think it was cool and clever - just weird when mixed with the whole Greek mythology thing. It almost didn't fit.
• I didn't like the concept of the Underworld in this book as compared to the "real myth" if that makes any sense. Though, in theory, I like the idea of the "real" afterlife being so open to interpretation, I like my mythology to be pretty straightforward, and I think I accepted enough deviation with the Gods/Goddesses being so different to begin with. I'm not sure why but that aspect kind of ticked me off.

SUMMARY:

I can honestly say I cried from like page 1 to page 50 consistently, and if I hadn't been sitting in front of a couple of my fiancé's co-workers when I finished this book, I would've been crying also. It gripped me right from the beginning with the impending loss of her mother and kept me hooked most of the time with her growing relationship with Henry.

I would also like to give a whopping THANK YOU to Rick Riordan, the author of the Percy Jackson series for introducing and so accurately teaching me about Greek mythology. I wouldn't have understood this book so well if I didn't know what the hell was going on, and though I may have enjoyed it more if I didn't know anything, I was pleased. I didn't like the weird changes to the Underworld as described by Henry, but I liked the story of what happened to Persephone as it was a believable continuation to what the myth says happened.

There were some things that annoyed me but I couldn't put this one down and I was rooting for Kate and Henry the whole time, hoping Kate could be the one to heal him. Damn you Persephone! All in all, this was a great read and I really want to read the next one to see what happens with Kate and Henry.


RATING: ★★★★

I enjoyed this story very much and I cant wait to read the next one. I would recommend this to any one who likes YA fiction or unique retellings of Greek mythology or any mythology at all, really. Great read!

Have any of you read this? What did you think? Do you agree or disagree with my opinion?

A.

Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

ISBN: 9781423139935
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Release date: March, 2013
Series: Stand alone
Page count: 288 pages

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend. 

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses. 

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her? 

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

REVIEW:

**I'm actually going to try a different review method to try and shorten things up so you all don't have to read my ramblings that you probably don't care about. Please let me know what style you prefer or think works better, be it the bullet points or my long (though in-depth) reviews**

     WHAT I LIKED:

• It was a cute, fun read with lots of wit and sarcasm.
• The pig thing - just adorable! I actually hated the pig idea in the beginning, but it turns out the pig, though she didn't have a huge part, ended up being on of my favorite parts/characters.
• This book didn't drag on or linger on unnecessary parts of the story. It was a short, swift read with lots of silly, quirky fun.
• There wasn't a horrible insta-love. Maybe an "insta-like", but the story didn't end with a "I've known you for a week, lets be together forever," thank GOD!
• The potioning was interesting, and though I would've liked to know more about it, it was pretty bad ass that Kyra was a "master potioner."

     WHAT I DIDNT LIKE:

• The writing was very simple. I know this is a young adult novel, but it feels like a book that was more meant for children rather than teens/young adults - you know, except for the parts that seemed borderline adult or sexual!! I'm not even going to bother elaborating, just know that some of it seemed too adult for the context the book was written in and it was almost uncomfortable. Super weird. In any event, the writing wasn't bad, don't get me wrong, but not great.
• "Major revelations" in the story came out of  nowhere and seemed out of place or not explained very well.
• The world building was sort of... non-existent. I didn't understand the Kingdom of Mohr at all, and sort of going along with the major events being out of place, it just seemed poorly put together.
• It was more silly than I found acceptable. I thought it was a little too lighthearted in spots that it should've been just a bit more serious, considering the lives of the entire kingdom were at stake!!!! I don't know - that just annoyed me immensely!
• I was almost a little bored by it at times and found myself only reading dialogue or skimming over parts that didn't seem important.
• It was supposed to be set in what seemed like a historical time of some sort, but other than the absence of cell phones and skinny jeans, it seemed a little modern... or at least not "historical" enough.

SUMMARY:

I saw a lot of 4 and 5 star ratings for this book, and I read a few of them, and the readers/reviewers liked the same things I liked, but maybe didn't dislike the same things I disliked and saw fit to give a 4/5 star rating. I initially picked this book up because of the higher ratings and (I regret to admit) because I noticed the author had passed away before her book hit the shelves and I thought it would've been nice to support her and the family even after her passing. It seemed like a cute, fun read and I liked the cover art.

I almost feel bad about the fact that I didn't really like this book. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it, but it wasn't my cup of tea. But I don't think I should say I like a book simply because the author was taken from the world too soon. I think a true artist such as herself would appreciate constructive criticism. I think I'm just trying to make myself better. So end of explanations and excuses. I simply didn't love it.

All in all, I didn't love this book, and I am pretty glad it was short, and though I liked that it was a change from what I usually read (dark, painful dystopian novels), it just wasn't for me. I didn't necessarily dislike it, but I definitely cant say I liked it either.

RATING:  ★★ 1/2
Two and a half stars, because as I stated before, I'm sort of in between not liking it, and liking it enough for a three star rating. I'm glad I got to read it and experience it for myself, but it seems like I'm a fan of the slightly more serious YA novels, and this book helped me to figure that out.

I'd recommend this to anyone who might enjoy a fantasy book that is more geared toward adolescents and enjoys silly, fun storylines with not much death and doom involved.

Have any of you read this? I'm expecting an onslaught of criticism for my almost-dislike of the book. Go ahead, tell me what you really think, I'm open! Am I being too harsh, or do you agree with me?

A.

P.S. I know I tried to shorten up my review but it doesn't seem like I did, haha. Maybe just simplified my ramblings by adding bullet points? Well anyhow, what do you think as compared to my last review? Please be honest!
 

Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

ISBN: 9780312642969
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release date: February, 2013
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #2
Page count: 452 pages

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

"Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner."

IN-DEPTH REVIEW:

I usually take notes while I read books, because lets be real, can you always remember what happens throughout the whole 400+ pages of the books you read? Most likely the answer is no. Or a lot of times for me, I will hate/love a book in the beginning and then feel the exact opposite at the end and its hard for me to remember why I felt a different way 400 pages ago.

What I'm trying to say is that for some reason, I only have about four lines of notes on this book so I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts on the book in its entirety into words. It took me three long weeks to read this. I dont want to be unfair, though, because the main reason it took me so long is that I have been very distracted with my recent engagement and I've been obsessed with all things weddings ever since. I finally finished Scarlet at work today, then OF COURSE I found myself wishing it didnt end.

As I stated before in my review of Cinder, Meyer's writing is fantastic. Not once did I encounter awkward wording or things I couldnt picture in my head or understand based on the way it was written. It came alive and I connected with the story, felt like I was with Scarlet and Cinder on their adventures.

I do have to say that I don't think I connected as much with Scarlet as I did with Cinder, and it was throughout the first half of the book that I found myself just reading about Scarlet and hoping and hoping for more about Cinder. I just felt like Scarlet's story took too long to develop into an actual adventure to save her grandmother. Then the romance started between Scarlet and Wolf, the mystery "Loyal Soldier to the Order of the Pack" with the sexaayyy eyes. Yeah, uh, boo to you Wolf, for all of that! I wont say more for fear of spoilage. But keep in mind that at one point, I wasnt sure if Wolf was gonna pull through as a good guy for this one.

Anyhow, I hate to be the girl who didnt like the book until the characters made kissy faces at eachother, and I do feel like the actual romance was a little much, but it still finally made things more than just mildly interesting. Needless to say, by the end of this book my heart ached for the two of them and I hated Wolf no more!

Cinder is my absolute favorite, her sarcasm, wit, badass-ed-ness, I just love it all, and with the long stretches of several chapters about Scarlet, I wanted to yell at the book and ask Cinder to come back. I once again loved the charming and clever way Meyer added the original fairytale of Little Red Riding hood into the story without being boring and still making it absolutely different. Also, I have a lot of questions about Thorne Carswell. He's gotta have something going for him, right? I mean, did he only serve the purpose of the "lumberjack" that saves Red Riding Hood aka Scarlet, or is he gonna be matched up with the chick from the next book? Like, what's his deal? You know authors dont waste attractive and funny character on secondary spots.

I really dont have much more to say about this book because I already love the series. It is so fresh and unique and so unlike any other dystopian out there, and I am sad that I will have to wait until next year (I mean come on, REALLY?!) to read the next one.

SUMMARY OF MY THOUGHTS:

Not suprised to have loved this one. Certain parts moved a little slower for me at first and I didnt connect as easily with the new characters, but by the middle of the book everything moved much quicker and I loved the new characters (almost) as much as I love Cinder, Kai and Iko! I would recommend this book (or the series itself) to dystopian lovers who are getting tired of the same old stuff. This is a fantastic and unique retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and I cant wait for the next to be released next year.

RATING:  ★★★★ 

I give this second installment of the Lunar Chronicles four stars because I loved it and the only thing that made it a little below amazing was that the first half was a little slow.

Have any of you read Scarlet by Marissa Meyer? If so, do you agree or disagree with my review? If not, do you plan on reading it? Love hearing what you all think

A.