Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Review - Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (Delirium #2)

Picture from Chapters.ca
   
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance
Format: Hardcover (375 pages)
Publisher: February 28th 2012
Publication Date:   Harper Teen
Rating: 5/5
Source: Library Loan
Get it at: Chapters | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
  












Summary from Goodreads:
 
I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.



My Opinions:

And once again Lauren Oliver just left me speechless (in a good way of course!). I was super impressed with this book. The writing quality and the emotions were just amazing and surreal.  You know how in some trilogies, where the authors get a bit sloppy (often too forced) in order to string the first book and the final book together? It did not happened with Pandemonium and the story live up exceeded my expectations despite the harsh ending in Delirium. The waiting time for this book was so painful (almost 2 months - people read so slow on popular books and my library never have enough copies =( )

While Delirium focused on Love, Pandemonium dived into Anger, Hatred and Trust (Moving on as well?) which were interesting combinations of themes. In Pandemonium, we see the changes that Lena has to go through and the sacrificed she made to adjust life in the Wilds. I was really amazed at how Oliver shaped her. In the past, she was used to follow orders and believed what the government said. However, with the lost of Alex, her first love, and the harsh living conditions in the Wilds have made her realized that people feel emotions in order to be human and not just "zombies" (referred to those that are "cured").

Although the secondary characters that were along side of Lena were not describe in detailed (mainly just popped in once or twice) you can't help it but to fall in love with every single one of them. I am super glad that Sarah managed to escape (Thank you Oliver for not killing her off!). However, Blue was not so lucky and her story is so heartbreaking. I'm glad she still lived a happy life (despite that the Oliver has to kill her off).

The downside of the story is ---> LOVE TRIANGLE. Honestly, I was not expecting this. I always thought that Alex would come back and everything will be alright (Well Wish, he did came back.. at the last sentence of the book where the cliffhanger is). It seems that all Dystopian novels just have to have love triangles aka *coughCrossedcough*. I am, however, curious at how this whole love interest will work out. Since Delirium met every single of my expectations of romance and that Pandemonium exceeded  my expectation, Requiem should be REALLY REALLY REALLY well written with ABSOLUTELY NO CLICHES. Although there is a love triangle that is happening, I can't pick a side because I love Alex and Julian equally. I mean, with other love triangles that I encounter, I only sided with one person. I am so torn! I really like the relationship between Lena and Alex as well as Lena and Julian. At the end, Alex comes back, but he is angry about something. I guess if I were Alex, I'll probably be mad too. For example, Alex did so much to for Lena and for her to run off with another guy? I'll be furious!

What I think is the most interesting and artistic about Pandemonium is how the chapters were string together. Instead of the the good old fashion event progressing layout or the alternating the main protagonists' point of views, Pandemonium alternate between time periods - Then and Now. "Then" refers to the past where Lena just started out living in the Wild and "Now" is the present where Lena is on a mission. At first it was difficult to follow because I had to flip back to remind myself what happened in the past after finishing a chapter about the present. I thought the layout was genius because it definitely keep you at the edge of your seat and makes you keep reading until the very end

When I finished Delirium, I was crying my heart out because the ending was so shocking but the story was heart-breakingly beautiful. While starting on Pandemonium, I have a box of tissue ready just so I can be ready for the sad parts of the story, and I am glad that I have that box of tissue haha. I honestly hope Lauren Oliver would write a short spin-off in Alex's point of view during the time period of Pandemonium (similar to Hana which is a short spin-off in Hana's POV during Delirium time period). I cannot wait for the final installment, because I have a good feeling that ending will be super epic.

Overall, Pandemonium is a MUST READ book. Oh. Remember to read Hana (Delirium #1.5) before reading Pandemonium, it will make the plot way more interesting I promised you.

。・:*:・゚`☆、。・:*:・゚`★*。・:*:・゚`☆、。・:*:・゚`★*。

 Quotes

  • “That is what hatred is. It will feed you and at the same time turn you to rot.”
    “A world without love is also a world without stakes.” 
  • “If you’re smart, you care. And if you care, you love.”
    “Something must die so that others can live.” 
  • "Live free or die. Four words. Thirteen letters. Ridges, bumps, swirls under my fingertips. Another story. We cling tightly to it, and our belief turn it to truth."

。・:*:・゚`☆、。・:*:・゚`★*。・:*:・゚`☆、。・:*:・゚`★*。

About Lauren Oliver

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Review - Ascend by Amanda Hocking (Trylle Trilogy #3)

Picture from Goodreads.com
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
Format: Paperback (326 pages)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: April 24th 2012
Rating: 5/5
Source: Bought from Costco =)
Get it at: Chapters | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Summary from Goodreads:
Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself.  If she doesn’t surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe.  But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind…even if it’s the only way to save them?
 
The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn’t the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice…who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end. 
 
Everything has been leading to this moment.  The future of her entire world rests in her hands—if she’s ready to fight for it.

What I think: (May contain spoilers)

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Review - Torn by Amanda Hocking (Trylle Trilogy #2)

Picture from Chapters.ca
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
Format: Paperback (324 pages)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date:   February 28th 2012
Rating: 4/5
Source: Bought from Costco =)
Get it at: Chapters | Amazon | Barnes and Noble


Summary from Goodreads:

When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…

She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds.

As a special gift to readers, this book contains a new, never-before-published bonus story, “One Day, Three Ways,” set in the magical world of the Trylle.



Request Review - Secrets by Katherine Gilraine (The Index #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: ebook
Publisher: Createspace
Publication Date:  March 23rd 2010
Rating: 5/5
Source: Borrowed from Friend
Get it at: Amazon
Summary from Goodreads:
After a century of tentative peace, there is cause to celebrate - the old-fashioned way.The High Mage Ranking Tournament is back for the first time in a thousand years. As the competition heats up to see who of the new crop of Mages is strongest, certain things are bound to come up.

Rhyssius receives a letter from an unlikely source.

Rena receives a visitor with an unlikely issue.

Some things aren't meant to stay under wraps.


Review - Switched by Amanda Hocking (Trylle Trilogy #1)

Picture from Chapters.ca
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
Format: Paperback (318 pages)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date:  January 3rd 2012
Rating: 4/5
Source: Bought from Costco =)
Get it at: Chapters | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Summary from Goodreads:

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Request Review - Revival by Katherine Gilraine (The Index #4)

Picture from Goodreads.com
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: eBook
Publisher: Createspace
Publication Date:  May 5th 2012
Rating: 5/5
Source: Borrowed from Friend
Get it at: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads: 

Shourron I wanted nothing more than to find out where he came from. Who was his father? Who ordered the leech? Investigations yielded nothing, and he thought that no one would ever know...

Until now.

Shourron gets the answers to his checkered past, but the knowledge comes at a price: everything he knows about
himself, a world where people had once sought refuge, and the life of someone dear to him.

Those who want answers above all must be careful what they wish for.


What I think: 

My only pet peeves is that the covers art from book 1 to book 4 aren't consistent. Revival's cover illustration seemed to have much more captivating concept then the other 3. I still like the other 3 books covert art, but I wish it the design for the series is more consistent. 

Request Review - Lineage by Katherine Gilraine (The Index #3)

Picture from Goodreads
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: eBook
Publisher: Createspace
Publication Date:  August 15th 2009
Rating: 5/5
Source: Borrowed from Friend
Get it at: Amazon


Summary from Goodreads:


In the 34th Century, New York City's everyday gets an entirely new twist when one of the premier businessmen, Jason Watson, goes missing after a series of strange events at his company that have never been resolved. Suspicions of foul play arose to the degree that Alex Kramer, the missing man's business partner, decides that it's time to call in some otherworldly help.

Arriella's sister disappears on the job, and her last location takes Arriella and the Mages directly back to Earth. While they are away, Emperor Rhyssius finds out that some ambitions never die...

It's all about connections.

...isn't it?


What I think:


Request Review - Mages by Katherine Gilraine (The Index #1)


Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: Paperback (362 pages)
Publisher: Createspace
Publication Date:  August 15th 2009
Rating: 5/5
Source: Borrowed from Friend
Get it at: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

In a post-war universe, after two centuries of cleaning up after villains, restoring worlds, lives, and hearts, and ending wars and resolving conflicts, three young warriors finally say, "It's time for a break." However, they end up with more than what they bargained for as they resurface again in 21st Century New York City, with their break at a screeching halt as new trouble hits.

As they hit the ground running and fighting, the warriors confront a series of personal concerns that had become difficult to keep out of the work arena. How far will Shourron II go to ensure the job gets done? What made Rena take the original conflict so personally that she would violate the bylaws that she herself had written? Why does Vannara constantly insist that the galaxy's greatest criminal is innocent?

One thing's for sure in their search for those answers: break time's over.


What I think: 

I was actually messaged by the author to do a review on her fourth book in this series so I've decided to do book reviews from the first book to the fourth book just to keep up with the consistency ahahaha =)