tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33652004451471974402024-02-21T14:09:15.873+10:30Looking for the PanaceaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09311824573850180870noreply@blogger.comBlogger809125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-56515449987846041642020-09-17T23:08:00.001+09:302020-09-24T21:31:25.132+09:30The Rest of the Story by Sarah DessenTitle: The Rest of the Story<br />
Author: Sarah Dessen<br />
Genre: Contemporary<br />
Source: Balzer + Bray via Edelweiss<br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42245770-the-rest-of-the-story?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=L6uImpNwnt&rank=1">Goodreads</a><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbAc9oFurmBKjOmOrBeHLFonu9WW0wImD7ySQSuIoipAIUaqSevu5flbmpYvqPHSD8XPt-5CALUq_9MDqVS0NiMbykYIb37QjzfRiHav0UKMiPAhJBx0pOiiKwOvxCaNN99FbnHDqvsvS/s320/42245770._SY475_.jpg" /><blockquote>Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when she was ten. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.<br /><br />Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable…until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family—her grandmother and cousins she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.<br /><br />When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is divided into two people as well. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.<br /><br />Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake—and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.<br /><br />For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her will win out?</blockquote>Review by Nara<span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>The Rest of the Story is what I would call a "quiet contemporary". It doesn't have a huge conflict or a big mystery or much action. But it focuses on issues that anyone could relate to and a compelling main character who has interesting thoughts that help drive the plot forward.</div><div><br /></div><div>Emma Saylor feels split between her two identities as described in the blurb, and split between her two families. The summer in which the novel is set is the first summer that she can properly remember meeting her mother's family and it's a chance for her to explore the environment in which her mother grew up and where her parents met.</div><div><br /></div><div>The romance was cute but what I appreciated most was that it took a backseat to the more important aspect of the novel in our protagonist's discovery of her identity and her developing relationships with the family that she's never known.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall the formula was quite standard Dessen, but it's a formula that works well. If you've liked her other books you will most likely like this one too.</div><div>
<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="1580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkZ1PZEjU_ETdvZ9pi31nkUx2X-BkUh-XStO45xquLa4i8K4VTKvv3rf_6yvZHE2YmfEtz-0LMTB793-OC9s_zy2l9S4iUOv0J91s3GwijZXv_kvhcQQFJMsN8mHMlRCVIC8PXC8-Q13J/s320/5+stars+final.png" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Really liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 8/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Romance: 4/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
Characters: 4/5<br />
Cover: 2/5<br />
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<br /><br /></div><br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-25106578632325321862020-09-11T18:12:00.001+09:302020-09-24T21:31:33.581+09:30Yes No Maybe SoTitle: Yes No Maybe So<br /> Author: Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed<br /> Genre: Contemporary<br /> Source: Balzer + Bray via Edelweiss<br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43615530-yes-no-maybe-so?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=GllIZqjHMk&rank=1">Goodreads</a><br /> <br /><br /> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8Nww0OL-zs45cgyw0vp3qK0Y6jJ8z72F4lH9Wr1ROXG2sdcy85MGaw040iTlzFRYfbQcohWPXBBIUt_VuSwEwnGF4vQJBpbNeTa5kWUC0YIV77yKo6YcEh3SpOwDnh1LgqkfZb6UOzs9/s320/43615530.jpg" /><br /><blockquote>New York Times bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed have crafted a resonant, funny, and memorable story about the power of love and resistance.<br />YES<br />Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.<br />NO<br />Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.<br /><br />MAYBE SO<br />Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.</blockquote><span><a name='more'></a></span><span>Yes No Maybe So was a book I was looking forward to as one of the authors, Becky Albertalli, is the author of one of my favourite contemporaries (Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda). I really enjoyed the novel overall, but did find the romance a little weak.<br /><br />I found the novel focused quite strongly on the political aspect of the story. The whole story takes place during the campaigning period for the local political figure, Jordan Rossum (whose position I actually can't remember woops, maybe senator?). So, unsurprisingly, there is a huge focus on policies, and canvassing, and petitioning. The novel comes at an important time in terms of the political climate in the US, and o</span>ne of the main policies they discuss is a bill that bans the use of any head and face coverings, which is obviously targetting the Muslim population in particular.<div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>The characters bond over their newfound political activism, and develop a relationship which is complicated by their religious differences (Jamie is Jewish and Maya is Muslim). I thought the romance was a bit typical, following a relatively bland trajectory. I felt the resolution of one of the issues in their romance (brought about by another character Gabe) was somewhat poorly executed as well.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Overall, though, I thought it was quite a decent book with great banter between the main characters, and strong, individual points of view. I would recommend the novel if you want some insight into the political process in the US, packaged into lighter read by virtue of the romance.<br /></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="1580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdl8yoW5W9FQTKu9-U754KMq_jJ44teIrZO76fZrfj7tmwlQDxuIQUcNnQh9vLDR5nNArPdepV9AWc4zWIPP3QdTZ3DfJRsMAbbUPGzILMlmgjkEFcdyHzs_una1HNEbMWgtARlDi8jHM/s320/5+stars+final.png" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Really liked it</i></div>Ratings<br />Overall: 8/10<br />Plot: 4/5<br />Romance: 3.5/5<br />Writing: 4/5<br />Characters: 4/5<br />Cover: 3/5<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5RP9YB6HwOZP6pKBKpmjofH2WUOsz91OqsHFegBVhCg-BWt6DHcW-LmC_VBFehL2meGFww4_SAw-ICyuw53KOqj1Z0I6T96Kdn06of7K_ixmzjhyphenhyphenUtBskDdtwatSoIzgNO8uMX7OVPEG/s1600/Signature+Final.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5RP9YB6HwOZP6pKBKpmjofH2WUOsz91OqsHFegBVhCg-BWt6DHcW-LmC_VBFehL2meGFww4_SAw-ICyuw53KOqj1Z0I6T96Kdn06of7K_ixmzjhyphenhyphenUtBskDdtwatSoIzgNO8uMX7OVPEG/s1600/Signature+Final.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div></div>Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-17510046928113016252020-09-06T23:00:00.003+09:302020-09-06T23:00:38.075+09:30The Other Side of the SkyTitle: The Other Side of the Sky<br />
Author: Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner<br />
Genre: Science Fiction<br />
Source: HarperTeen via Edelweiss<br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40599772-the-other-side-of-the-sky?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=qLpmwpC9eC&rank=1">Goodreads</a><br />
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"Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner prove they are two living goddesses of
writing, creating two compelling worlds with high stakes and gripping
emotions." —Sarah Rees Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of the
Demon's Lexicon trilogy and the Lynburn Legacy series<br /><br />New York
Times bestselling author duo Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner have crafted a
gripping tale of magic and logic, fate and choice, and a deadly love.
Perfect for fans of Laini Taylor and Brandon Sanderson.<br /><br />Prince
North’s home is in the sky, in a gleaming city held aloft by intricate
engines, powered by technology. Nimh is the living goddess of her people on
the Surface, responsible for providing answers, direction—hope.<br /><br />North’s
and Nimh’s lives are entwined—though their hearts can never be. Linked by a
terrifying prophecy and caught between duty and fate, they must choose
between saving their people or succumbing to the bond that is forbidden
between them.
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<span><a name='more'></a></span><div>Something I really enjoyed in this The Other Side of the Sky was the juxtaposition of magic and science. I love it when books do this, for example in the flintlock fantasy genre where people have both guns and magic. In this novel, Nimh is from below where magic is part of everyday life. North is from the sky, where the people have lost their knowledge of magic but have evolved to use technology. I found it so interesting how North tried to explain the magic as a form of chemical reaction, it sort of reminds me of Clarke's third law "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", except it's the reverse of that.</div><div><br /></div><div>I thought the plot was quite well thought out, with the villain having an interesting motive and backstory- it seems like we will find out in the next book whether there is another player behind her actions. I found the only weak aspect of the plot was the romance. It wasn't a particularly dominant aspect of the plot but I did find that it wasn't really that compelling, mostly I suppose because the relationship development takes place only over a short period of time.</div><div><br /></div><div><span>But seriously what an ending! It ends on a somewhat mysterious note as well as a more conventional cliffhanger that definitely makes me look forward to when the next book is released.<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkZ1PZEjU_ETdvZ9pi31nkUx2X-BkUh-XStO45xquLa4i8K4VTKvv3rf_6yvZHE2YmfEtz-0LMTB793-OC9s_zy2l9S4iUOv0J91s3GwijZXv_kvhcQQFJMsN8mHMlRCVIC8PXC8-Q13J/s1580/5+stars+final.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="1580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkZ1PZEjU_ETdvZ9pi31nkUx2X-BkUh-XStO45xquLa4i8K4VTKvv3rf_6yvZHE2YmfEtz-0LMTB793-OC9s_zy2l9S4iUOv0J91s3GwijZXv_kvhcQQFJMsN8mHMlRCVIC8PXC8-Q13J/s320/5+stars+final.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Really liked it</i></div>Ratings<br />Overall: 8/10<br />Plot: 3.5/5<br />Romance: 3/5<br />Writing: 4/5<br />World Building: 4/5<br />Characters: 4/5<br />Cover: 3/5<br /><br />
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</div>Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-24552692490386259162020-06-04T17:01:00.001+09:302020-09-24T21:31:47.424+09:30The Beholder Duology by Anna BrightTitle: The Beholder + The Boundless<br />
Author: Anna Bright<br />
Genre: Historical, Adventure<br />
Source: HarperTeen via Edelweiss<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36558159-the-beholder">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
Selah has waited her whole life for a happily ever after. As the only daughter of the leader of Potomac, she knows her duty is to find the perfect match, a partner who will help secure the future of her people. Now that day has finally come.<br />
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But after an excruciatingly public rejection from her closest childhood friend, Selah’s stepmother suggests an unthinkable solution: Selah must set sail across the Atlantic, where a series of potential suitors awaits—and if she doesn’t come home engaged, she shouldn’t come home at all.<br />
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From English castle gardens to the fjords of Norge, and under the eye of the dreaded Imperiya Yotne, Selah’s quest will be the journey of a lifetime. But her stepmother’s schemes aren’t the only secrets hiding belowdecks…and the stakes of her voyage may be higher than any happy ending.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The Beholder Duology is a series about the adventures of Selah, the Seneschal-Elect (next leader) of the nation of Potomac. She is sent by her stepmother on a journey overseas to bring back a husband. I think this series started off quite promising but was quickly bogged down by pacing issues and a disproportionate focus on a mediocre romance.<br />
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Unfortunately the biggest issue with the series was the horrible pacing. The first book was not as bad in this respect as it had a few interesting events throughout, but I felt in the second book in particular it was really difficult to concentrate on the story. Mostly this was because of the romance. It seemed like initially the author makes an effort to steer the novel away from the romance and focus more on the adventure side of things, with protagonist exploring several new countries. But then the main character has a romance with what seems like every young male character that pops up in the series, with most of these "romances" basically being mediocre instaloves. <div>
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I'm not sure I can actually recommend this series. I liked the first book somewhat in its exploration of different countries and cultures, but overall the pacing and the poorly developed romance(s) brought down the adventure aspect of the story.<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="1580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO7nL32cUF5WdFPnpNjosEDoiQpQ4yjoDWQCPl2zotaonfEFO0hy_tkqtZEgMWvFs1H5C3e_qjpFUae9gaw-N_m37olEvz29t3Il6deZFWOk8-PAzFYlZkPM-WYfuKfAyKtagDtwP6Z3D/s320/3+stars+final.png" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It was okay</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 4/10<br />
Plot: 2/5<br />
Romance: 1/5<br />
Writing: 3/5<br />
World Building: 2/5<br />
Characters: 2/5<br />
Cover: 3/5<br />
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<br /></div></div>Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-32944645235811548882020-05-30T16:48:00.001+09:302020-05-30T16:48:22.611+09:30Among the Beasts and Briars<div>Title: Among the Beasts and Briars</div>
Author: Ashley Poston<br />
Genre: High Fantasy<br />
Source: Balzer + Bray via Edelweiss<br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38880861-among-the-beasts-briars">Goodreads</a><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4FKII2_7IypUrpdB8f3F3csQzHPpXxFkxs_WplGzlf22tNpCUupo_eDBvs2ZPzcunD_HvefP26u2E7IvtVOU9nsbLTG3un1q9O-e0BWzMDk3PqjgS1TlCkYzVLMQO8hxTqpCOkDhyphenhyphenkcM/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4FKII2_7IypUrpdB8f3F3csQzHPpXxFkxs_WplGzlf22tNpCUupo_eDBvs2ZPzcunD_HvefP26u2E7IvtVOU9nsbLTG3un1q9O-e0BWzMDk3PqjgS1TlCkYzVLMQO8hxTqpCOkDhyphenhyphenkcM/s320/38880861._SY475_.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div><br /></div><blockquote><div>Cerys is safe in the kingdom of Aloriya.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here there are no droughts, disease, or famine, and peace is everlasting. It has been this way for hundreds of years, since the first king made a bargain with the Lady who ruled the forest that borders the kingdom. But as Aloriya prospered, the woods grew dark, cursed, and forbidden. Cerys knows this all too well: when she was young, she barely escaped as the woods killed her friends and her mother. Now Cerys carries a small bit of the curse—the magic—in her blood, a reminder of the day she lost everything. The most danger she faces now, as a gardener’s daughter, is the annoying fox who stalks the royal gardens and won’t leave her alone.</div><div><br /></div><div>As a new queen is crowned, however, things long hidden in the woods descend on the kingdom itself. Cerys is forced on the run, her only companions the small fox from the garden, a strange and powerful bear, and the magic in her veins. It’s up to her to find the legendary Lady of the Wilds and beg for a way to save her home. But the road is darker and more dangerous than she knows, and as secrets from the past are uncovered amid the teeth and roots of the forest, it’s going to take everything she has just to survive.</div></blockquote><div></div></div><div>Review by Nara</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>This was seriously such a fantastic book.</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel like Ashley Poston keeps surprising me with just how versatile her writing is. A lot of authors will pick a genre and stick to it, but Poston has now written contemporary, science fiction and now high fantasy, all to a very high standard. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think this is my favourite of her books so far, probably in part due to the fact that high fantasy is my favourite genre. Poston brought a fairy tale flavour to her story that solidified the world building and magical feel to the novel. The plot itself is quite straight forward and predictable, but I felt that this surprisingly didn't actually bring down the quality of the book at all. It felt more like I was looking forward to the events unfolding.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I would certainly recommend this book to someone looking for a story with a similar vibe to Cruel Beauty or Uprooted.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="1580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7wShCrKFTF2YjvjBHwhjhT5mYhhmV5VXhBSXD3onUAnc3ZtCqO0s_og1gaT01CEWEgp-oqkgw2yfuZ4UfmU9rtc7GXoqsNxKkvWMmNAlGHG_30FiVDpvortPVe-0SggxO_wYQc1W1HFJ/s320/6+stars+final.png" width="320" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Incredible</i></div><div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 9/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Romance: 3/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
World Building: 4/5<br />
Characters: 4/5<br />
Cover: 4/5<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<br /></div>Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-28651380577780097532019-10-23T21:20:00.001+10:302019-10-23T21:20:22.986+10:30Medical Interviews: A Comprehensive Guide to CT, ST & Registrar Interview SkillsTitle: Medical Interviews: A Comprehensive Guide to CT, ST & Registrar Interview Skills<br />
Author: Olivier Picard, Dan Wood, Sebastian Yuen<br />
Genre: Non-Fiction<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Written and edited by experts in medical interview skills, this second edition takes you through all the important aspects of CT, ST and Registrar interviews and will give you a unique insight into the marking schemes. Through the detailed analysis of 120 medical interview questions, techniques and NHS hot topics, you will gain an invaluable insight into a wide range of common medical interview topics such as - how to talk about your motivation, your skills, experience, strengths and weaknesses; - how to demonstrate your understanding and experience of clinical governance, audit, research and teaching; - how to deal with difficult ethical dilemmas on confidentiality and consent; - how to handle a wide array of difficult colleagues. This book also contains detail of recent NHS reforms and other hot topics which may be discussed at interviews. As well as formal medical interview stations, the book provides advice on how to handle role play, presentation, group discussion and other communication stations.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a><i>For my friend Stephen!</i><br />
<br />
Medical Interviews was an odd novel that didn't seem to have much of a plot. Generally I was told a story should have a beginning, middle and ending, but this book seemed to meander around and have no general direction for the plotline of the story. It was broken up into chapters, but each chapter seemed to start with a question, most of which didn't really link up into the overall story. Reading through this novel, there was a lack of character development, in fact there was a complete lack of characters at all. I was also a bit confused about the setting of the novel, and it was hard to visualise what was going on in each scene.<br />
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Despite there being no plot, world building or characters, I enjoyed reading this book overall. It certainly helped me with my interview preparation; thanks for lending it to me Stephen!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Really liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 9/10<br />
Plot: 0/5<br />
Romance: 0/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
World Building: 0/5<br />
Characters: 0/5<br />
Cover: 3/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-480613352872597472019-09-03T20:47:00.000+09:302019-09-03T20:48:58.698+09:30Fan the Fame by Anna PriemazaTitle: Fan the Fame<br />
Author: Anna Priemaza<br />
Genre: Contemporary<br />
Source: HarperTeen<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40535962-fan-the-fame">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
Equal parts Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl and Jennifer Mathieu’s Moxie, this fiercely crafted, feminist YA novel takes on fandom, accountability, and doing the right thing. Even when it hurts.<br />
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Lainey wouldn’t mind lugging a camera around a video game convention for her brother, aka YouTube superstar Codemeister, except for one big problem. He’s funny and charming online, but behind closed doors, Cody is a sexist jerk.<br />
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SamTheBrave came to this year’s con with one mission: meeting Codemeister—because getting his idol’s attention could be the big break Sam needs.<br />
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ShadowWillow is already a successful streamer. But when her fans start shipping her with Code, Shadow concocts a plan to turn the rumors to her advantage.<br />
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The three teens’ paths collide when Lainey records one of Cody’s hateful rants on video. Because she’s determined to spill the truth to her brother’s fans—even if that means putting Sam and Shadow in the crosshairs.<br />
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Told through three relatable voices and arriving on the heels of the author’s widely praised debut novel, Kat and Meg Conquer the World, this sophomore novel is a nuanced and timely story about followers, fame, and fighting for what’s right.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>One thing that I really like about Anna Priemaza's books is that they focus on online gaming culture and the incredibly popular streaming community. I myself really enjoy both playing games and watching others play games and I love that her books spotlight this.<br />
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Fan the Fame features three quite different people who are connected through the legendary LoTScon, a convention for online game Legends of the Stone. I'm generally quite wary about there being multiple points of view in a contemporary, especially a relatively short book. However, I actually thought all three in this novel were warranted, particularly as they link together quite nicely and represent three quite different people in different stages of their Youtube/streamer careers (or in the case of Lainey, the career of her brother rather than her own).<br />
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The novel also touches on a number of other relevant issues, including sexism and mental health. Also quite relevant was examining how streamers should use their "influence" to change the world for the better (or not, in the case of Cody).<br />
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Would recommend this book to someone looking for a contemporary novel focusing on the seldom represented aspects of gaming culture.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Really liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 8/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Romance: 3.5/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
Characters: 4/5<br />
Cover: 2/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-88459845453788966482019-06-26T23:05:00.000+09:302019-06-26T23:05:15.730+09:30Circle of Shadows by Evelyn SkyeTitle: Circle of Shadows<br />
Author: Evelyn Skye<br />
Genre: High Fantasy<br />
Source: HarperCollins<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35553692-circle-of-shadows">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
Sora can move as silently as a ghost and hurl throwing stars with lethal accuracy. Her gemina, Daemon, can win any physical fight blindfolded and with an arm tied behind his back. They are apprentice warriors of the Society of Taigas—marked by the gods to be trained in magic and the fighting arts to protect the kingdom of Kichona.<br />
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As their graduation approaches, Sora and Daemon look forward to proving themselves worthy of belonging to the elite group—but in a kingdom free of violence since the Blood Rift Rebellion many years ago, it’s been difficult to make their mark. So when Sora and Daemon encounter a strange camp of mysterious soldiers while on a standard scouting mission, they decide the only thing to do to help their kingdom is to infiltrate the group.Taking this risk will change Sora’s life forever—and lead her on a mission of deception that may fool everyone she’s ever loved.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I really enjoyed Evelyn Skye's debut duology, and I had relatively high expectations for this one too. Her first was based on Russian history, with this new series being very loosely based on Japanese culture. Unfortunately, I felt quite disappointed as there were numerous poorly developed aspects of the novel and very few positives.<br />
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One of the main things that I personally rate a book on is how good the world building is. Honestly, I can forgive a lot of things in a high fantasy novel if, for example, there is an interesting and well thought out magic system. Unfortunately, this was definitely not the case in Circle of Shadows, with a flimsy magic system that doesn't seem to make sense. There was also little explanation behind the main villain being able to wield this specific other type of magic named "ryuu" magic which made it seem overpowered and inconsistent.<br />
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There are way too many points of view, most of which just seem to show thoughts from different characters that are incredibly obvious and that we would have been able to infer without having read an explicit chapter from them. For example, there was a chapter from one of the main villain's henchmen the entire content on which was just her saying how she wanted to impress the main villain. Um, obviously... don't really need to dedicate a damned chapter to it. These sorts of pointless extras just bogged down the pace and made me lose interest in what was going on.<br />
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The characters and romance were quite poorly developed as well. Daemon seemed to have the personality of a cardboard box, and Sora was the typical reckless female high fantasy protagonist. The side characters were hardly developed as well as they were essentially only used as stepping stones to help progress the story forward.<br />
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Overall, quite disappointing. I will not be continuing with this series.<br />
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<i>It was okay</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 3/10<br />
Plot: 2/5<br />
Romance: 1/5<br />
Writing: 3/5<br />
World Building: 2/5<br />
Characters: 2/5<br />
Cover: 4/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-83676981259819521742019-05-29T00:00:00.000+09:302019-09-03T20:49:11.477+09:30Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonTitle: Red, White and Royal Blue<br />
Author: Casey McQuiston<br />
Genre: Contemporary Romance<br />
Source: St Martin's Griffin via NetGalley<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150487-red-white-royal-blue">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
A big-hearted romantic comedy in which the First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends...<br />
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First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.<br />
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The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him. <br />
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As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Red, White and Royal Blue was one of the most hyped up contemporary novels of 2019. And I must say, it was definitely quite an impressive debut novel.<br />
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Despite the high class setting and absolutely unrelateable (for me at least) setting of the White House and the Palace and taking international flights every second day and having your schedule planned out by an entire team of staff, the characters and the story itself (at its heart) manages to still be surprisingly relateable. I suppose that's because the book is technically a romance novel, with the same basic progression that most romance novels have. One thing that does stand out is that the banter is absolute top quality, especially the texts and the emails.<br />
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Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for those looking for a fun (and sometimes a little ridiculous) contemporary romance. I feel it would also make quite a good movie.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Really liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 8/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Romance: 4/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
Characters: 4/5<br />
Cover: 3/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-43741960731478199722019-05-25T14:45:00.000+09:302019-05-25T14:45:23.458+09:30Sherwood by Meagan SpoonerTitle: Sherwood<br />
Author: Meagan Spooner<br />
Genre: Historical, Retelling<br />
Source: HarperCollins<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38734256">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
Robin of Locksley is dead. <br />
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When news comes that he's fallen in battle at the King's side in the Holy Land, Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on. Betrothed to Robin, she was free to be herself, to flout the stifling rules of traditional society and share an equal voice with her beloved when it came to caring for the people of her land.<br />
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Now Marian is alone, with no voice of her own. The people of Locksley, persecuted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, are doomed to live in poverty or else face death by hanging. The dreadful Guy of Gisborne, the Sherriff’s right hand, wishes to step into Robin’s shoes as Lord of Locksley, and Marian’s fiancé. Society demands that she accept her fate, and watch helplessly as her people starve.<br />
<br />
When Marian dons Robin's green cloak, and takes up his sword and bow, she never intended that anyone should mistake her for Robin, returned from the Holy Land as a vigilante. She never intended that the masked, cloaked figure she created should stand as a beacon of hope and justice to peasant and noble alike. She never intended to become a legend.<br />
<br />
But all of Nottingham is crying out for a savior. So Marian must choose to make her own fate and become her own hero...<br />
<br />
Robin Hood.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Sherwood is the second of Meagan Spooner's retellings, and I couldn't help but compare it to Hunted. Quite understandably it didn't have the same fairy tale feel that made Hunted so great to read, seeing as though it's a retelling of a less magical folktale rather than a fairytale per se.<br />
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I did feel the pacing of the first half was quite slow, but things sped up quickly to a good pace towards the end, with the conflicts being nicely set out and resolved. I think one thing that Spooner does quite well throughout all of her novels is the character development, and the directions is which she takes her various characters- which are not always the expected.<br />
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Overall, a good release from Spooner but not quite at the level of her other novels.<br />
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<i>Liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 7/10<br />
Plot: 3/5<br />
Romance: 3/5<br />
Writing: 3/5<br />
World Building: 3/5<br />
Characters: 3.5/5<br />
Cover: 4/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-47346910778087226082019-03-20T00:00:00.000+10:302019-03-20T00:00:03.517+10:30Heart of Thorns by Bree BartonTitle: Heart of Thorns<br />
Author: Bree Barton<br />
Genre: High Fantasy<br />
Source: Katherine Tegen via Edelweiss<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35720690-heart-of-thorns">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
In the ancient river kingdom, touch is a battlefield, bodies the instruments of war. Seventeen-year-old Mia Rose has pledged her life to hunting Gwyrach: women who can manipulate flesh, bones, breath, and blood.<br />
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Not women. Demons. The same demons who killed her mother without a single scratch. <br />
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But when Mia's father suddenly announces her marriage to the prince, she is forced to trade in her knives and trousers for a sumptuous silk gown. Only after the wedding goes disastrously wrong does she discover she has dark, forbidden magic—the very magic she has sworn to destroy.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>I remember liking Heart of Thorns overall, but I am definitely struggling to write a review for it a month after I read it- there are certain aspects of the novel that I remember, but there aren't a lot of things that I specifically remember feeling strongly about it (good or bad). The main thing I remember is that it followed a lot of the classic high fantasy tropes, and the majority of the novel was filled with predictability and stereotypes. However, I do also remember that there are some big twists in the end that were not as predictable.<br />
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I think if I were to go on to read the sequel I would certainly need to reread the first book or at least read a recap. There are many major plot details that I have forgotten, including the names of the characters. Overall, a decent read that doesn't particularly stand out in any way.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 7/10<br />
Plot: 3.5/5<br />
Romance: 3/5<br />
Writing: 3/5<br />
World Building: 3/5<br />
Characters: 3/5<br />
Cover: 3/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-5512481053391194452019-03-12T19:10:00.000+10:302019-03-12T19:10:16.963+10:30Fame, Fate and the First Kiss by Kasie WestTitle: Fame, Fate and the First Kiss<br />
Author: Kasie West<br />
Genre: Contemporary Romance<br />
Source: HarperCollins<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38251237-fame-fate-and-the-first-kiss">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
Lacey Barnes has dreamt of being in a movie for as long as she can remember. However, while her dream did include working alongside the hottest actor in Hollywood, it didn’t involve having to finish up her senior year of high school at the same time she was getting her big break. Although that is nothing compared to Donavan, the straight-laced student her father hires to tutor her, who is a full-on nightmare.<br />
<br />
As Lacey struggles to juggle her burgeoning career, some on-set sabotage, and an off-screen romance with the unlikeliest of leading men, she quickly learns that sometimes the best stories happen when you go off script.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Fame, Fate and the First Kiss is another very fluffy contemporary romance from Kasie West. I would probably rate it in the middle of the novels I've read from her; it was a cute read but didn't have a lot of depth.<br />
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The story focuses on main character Lacey, who is an actress who has managed to land a role opposite a big actor in an indie film. Various strange things begin to occur on set, with the director seeming to blame her for the sabotage. Also featuring is the romance with a local who has been hired to be her tutor.<br />
<br />
One thing I always think while reading West's novels is that they generally would probably make very good rom com films. The stories are generally pretty simple, with the romance taking the big focus with a few other minor points of conflict in the subplots.<br />
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Overall, I would only recommend this to those looking for a quick and easy read.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 6/10<br />
Plot: 3/5<br />
Romance: 3/5<br />
Writing: 3/5<br />
Characters: 2.5/5<br />
Cover: 1/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-37975641911570355472019-03-04T00:00:00.000+10:302019-03-04T00:00:05.370+10:30Four Dead Queens by Astrid ScholteTitle: Four Dead Queens<br />
Author: Astrid Scholte<br />
Genre: High Fantasy, Mystery<br />
Source: A&U<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34213319-four-dead-queens?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
A divided nation. Four Queens. A ruthless pickpocket. A noble messenger. And the murders that unite them.<br />
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Get in quick, get out quicker.<br />
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These are the words Keralie Corrington lives by as the preeminent dipper in the Concord, the central area uniting the four quadrants of Quadara. She steals under the guidance of her mentor Mackiel, who runs a black market selling their bounty to buyers desperate for what they can’t get in their own quarter. For in the nation of Quadara, each quarter is strictly divided from the other. Four queens rule together, one from each region:<br />
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Toria: the intellectual quarter that values education and ambition<br />
Ludia: the pleasure quarter that values celebration, passion, and entertainment<br />
Archia: the agricultural quarter that values simplicity and nature<br />
Eonia: the futurist quarter that values technology, stoicism and harmonious community<br />
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When Keralie intercepts a comm disk coming from the House of Concord, what seems like a standard job goes horribly wrong. Upon watching the comm disks, Keralie sees all four queens murdered in four brutal ways. Hoping that discovering the intended recipient will reveal the culprit – information that is bound to be valuable bartering material with the palace – Keralie teams up with Varin Bollt, the Eonist messenger she stole from, to complete Varin’s original job and see where it takes them.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Four Dead Queens was a high fantasy novel centred around a thief named Keralie, and her connection to the murders of the four Queens of Quadara.<br />
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One thing I was pretty impressed by was the world building, which was pretty good overall, especially with the various scenes we have from the Queens' perspectives, showing us how the nations' values and points of view differed. I felt that each of the quarters was well fleshed out.<br />
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I did feel the only downfall of the novel was the difficulty I had getting more depth from the characters. They were a bit archetypical for the high fantasy genre (although there were definitely some aspects of diversity included, which was great to see). <br />
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FDQ is a book that I've seen quite a lot of press about, and it is well deserved. I look forward to seeing any other books Astrid Scholte has to offer in the future.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Really liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 8/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
World Building: 4/5<br />
Characters: 3.5/5<br />
Cover: 3/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-76272266252097881692019-03-01T00:00:00.000+10:302019-03-01T00:00:00.393+10:30Dreamology by Lucy KeatingTitle: Dreamology<br />
Author: Lucy Keating<br />
Genre: Science Fiction<br />
Source: HarperTeen via Edelweiss<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23466626-dreamology">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
For as long as Alice can remember, she has dreamed of Max. Together they have traveled the world and fallen deliriously, hopelessly in love. Max is the boy of her dreams—and only her dreams. Because he doesn’t exist.<br />
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But when Alice walks into class on her first day at a new school, there he is. It turns out, though, that Real Max is nothing like Dream Max, and getting to know each other in reality isn’t as perfect as Alice always hoped.<br />
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When their dreams start to bleed dangerously into their waking hours, the pair realize that they might have to put an end to a lifetime of dreaming about each other. But when you fall in love in your dreams, can reality ever be enough?<br />
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Whimsical, romantic and utterly original, Lucy Keating’s debut novel will win readers’ hearts.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Okay, so I think I gave this book a good go, but it definitely was not one for me. Reading the blurb now, to be honest, I'm not sure why I ever wanted to read this book in the first place. It sounds like a cheesy rom com plot. I tried to read it once, gave up on it, and then tried it again a couple of years later, but it was still pretty poorly written. It's not just the writing itself, but the character development was quite terrible and the conflict/issues that arise in the novel just weren't that compelling. I did technically finish the book, but it was while ridiculously skim reading it so I'm not even sure I can mark it as a finished book. I unfortunately cannot recommend it.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Didn't like it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 2/10<br />
Plot: 1/5<br />
Romance: 1/5<br />
Writing: 2/5<br />
Characters: 1/5<br />
Cover: 2/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-92032183188525814512019-02-25T00:00:00.000+10:302019-02-25T00:00:04.989+10:30This Splintered Silence by Kayla OlsonTitle: This Splintered Silence<br />
Author: Kayla Olson<br />
Genre: Science Fiction<br />
Source: HarperTeen<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36461446-this-splintered-silence">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
Lindley Hamilton has been the leader of the space station Lusca since every first-generation crew member on board, including her mother, the commander, were killed by a deadly virus.<br />
<br />
Lindley always assumed she’d captain the Lusca one day, but she never thought that day would come so soon. And she never thought it would be like this—struggling to survive every day, learning how to keep the Lusca running, figuring out how to communicate with Earth, making sure they don’t run out of food.<br />
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When a member of the surviving second generation dies from symptoms that look just like the deadly virus, though, Lindley feels her world shrinking even smaller. The disease was supposed to be over; the second generation was supposed to be immune. But as more people die, Lindley must face the terrifying reality that either the virus has mutated or something worse is happening: one of their own is a killer.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>This Splintered Silence is a Lord of the Flies style of novel where a group of teenagers is forced to fend for themslves, except it's set in space and there's a deadly virus spreading throughout the population.<br />
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This was my first novel by Olson, and it's certainly not going to be the last. She does a fantastic job of building up the suspense throughout the novel, and showing us the different reactions each member of the core crew have to the crisis of the virus. Main character Lindley is not perfect, and justifiably so- she's a teen who has been left with a massive responsibility she's not ready for just yet.<br />
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As on might expect, there's a pretty big twist in the novel, which is built up to nicely. I certainly didn't realise what was going on, although when I thought back to the rest of the novel, there probably was some foreshadowing that I didn't notice.<br />
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Overall, an excellent sci-fi mystery/thriller.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Really liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 7/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
Characters: 4/5<br />
Cover: 2/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-69077872069397467412019-02-19T00:00:00.000+10:302019-02-19T00:00:02.488+10:30A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid KemmererTitle: A Curse So Dark and Lonely<br />
Author: Brigid Kemmerer<br />
Genre: Fantasy<br />
Source: Bloomsbury<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30097276-a-curse-so-dark-and-lonely">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
Fall in love, break the curse.<br />
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It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.<br />
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Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.<br />
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Break the curse, save the kingdom.<br />
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A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>A rather dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast, A Curse So Dark and Lonely focuses on Harper, a girl from Washington, DC who is taken to the fantasy land of Emberfall in order to break the curse on the prince and the kingdom there.<br />
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The characters were a bit typical in terms of their basic fantasy roles, but I found it quite refreshing to have a main character with cerebral palsy. I found it interesting to see the parallels between the original tale and the retelling, with a much darker spin on the curse and the villain. However, I also did feel that the book dragged on a little, and would probably have rated it higher if there wasn't as much bulk to the plot.<br />
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The ending seemed a bit incomplete, but the author says the sequel is more of a companion novel, so I'm not quite sure where the series is going to go to be honest! But I'm definitely going to be getting the next book to find out.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Really liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 8/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Romance: 4/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
World Building: 3/5<br />
Characters: 3/5<br />
Cover: 4/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-9732672370182773332019-02-15T00:00:00.000+10:302019-02-15T00:00:05.666+10:30Bloodwitch by Susan DennardTitle: Bloodwitch<br />
Author: Susan Dennard<br />
Genre: High Fantasy<br />
Source: PanMacmillan<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39863277-bloodwitch?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
Fans of Susan Dennard's New York Times bestselling Witchlands series have fallen in love with the Bloodwitch Aeduan. And now, finally, comes his story.<br />
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High in a snowy mountain range, a monastery that holds more than just faith clings to the side of a cliff. Below, thwarted by a lake, a bloodthirsty horde of raiders await the coming of winter and the frozen path to destroy the sanctuary and its secrets.<br />
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The Bloodwitch Aeduan has teamed up with the Threadwitch Iseult and the magical girl Owl to stop the destruction. But to do so, he must confront his own father, and his past.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Bloodwitch is Book 3 in the Witchlands series, and damn, Susan Dennard does an amazing job of keeping up the momentum throughout the books. None of the three (and a half) released currently show any sign of suffering from lack of ideas, and each just makes me more excited to read the next.<br />
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I find it so interesting how this series doesn't have a very obvious villain. It's more about different conflicts within the world, and it's so fantastic how Dennard uses the different points of views to portray different aspects of each of the characters. You can't necessarily trust one character's perspective of another, because of the inherent bias in that character's thoughts about the other. So fascinating how the author is able to play this off.<br />
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I have to mention the Iseult x (B)Aeduan ship. Honestly, you can definitely tell that Dennard loves her slow burn romance, and damn is she good at it. The way the relationship develops slowly between these two over a period of so many books.<br />
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The Witchlands series is definitely one of my favourite high fantasy series. I would highly recommend it to all.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Incredible</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 9/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Romance: 4/5<br />
Writing: 5/5<br />
World Building: 5/5<br />
Characters: 5/5<br />
Cover: 3/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-26237218431892045902019-02-12T00:00:00.000+10:302019-02-12T00:00:13.843+10:30Lady Smoke by Laura SebastianTitle: Lady Smoke<br />
Author: Laura Sebastian<br />
Genre: High Fantasy<br />
Source: PanMacmillan<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40702154-lady-smoke">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
The sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller that was "made for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sabaa Tahir" ( Bustle ), Lady Smoke is an epic new fantasy about a throne cruelly stolen and a girl who must fight to take it back for her people. <br />
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The Kaiser murdered Theodosia's mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six. He took Theo's country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess--a pet to toy with and humiliate for ten long years. That era has ended. The Kaiser thought his prisoner weak and defenseless. He didn't realize that a sharp mind is the deadliest weapon.<br />
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Theo no longer wears a crown of ashes. She has taken back her rightful title, and a hostage--Prinz Soren. But her people remain enslaved under the Kaiser's rule, and now she is thousands of miles away from them and her throne.<br />
<br />
To get them back, she will need an army. Only, securing an army means she must trust her aunt, the dreaded pirate Dragonsbane. And according to Dragonsbane, an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband. Something an Astrean Queen has never done.<br />
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Theo knows that freedom comes at a price, but she is determined to find a way to save her country without losing herself.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Honestly, I feel like this series has been quite underrated.<br />
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Ash Princess was one of my favourite books on 2018, even more so because it was an unexpected favourite. I hadn't heard a lot about it going in, but found that it really appealed to a lot of my favourite aspects of a darker YA fantasy.<br />
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Lady Smoke is just as good, building on the political intrigue and dark twists from the first novel. One thing I find great about this series is that the author doesn't pull back on any punches in terms of the brutality of war, or the danger of being in a position of power. On the other hand, there is also a realistic view in terms of the romance, and how Theo isn't really in a good position to be making choices about her relationships given the state of her country and her responsibilities.<br />
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We explore more of the world of the series in this book, and look into a country where there is no magic, and instead science and technology have developed. I found this fascinating, and would love to see what else we will see in terms of world building in the third book. We're seeing more of the basis of the magic system as well, which I quite appreciated.<br />
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Overall, I definitely recommend this series. It's quickly becoming one of my favourite YA high fantasy series.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Incredible</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 9/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Romance: 4/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
World Building: 3.5/5<br />
Characters: 4/5<br />
Cover: 4/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-66784340051246940432019-01-19T00:00:00.000+10:302019-01-19T00:00:05.651+10:30Blog Tour: Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Title: Emergency Contact<br />
Author: Mary H.K. Choi<br />
Genre: Contemporary<br />
Source: S&S<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35297272-emergency-contact?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn’t actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind.<br />
<br />
Sam’s stuck. Literally, figuratively, emotionally, financially. He works at a café and sleeps there too, on a mattress on the floor of an empty storage room upstairs. He knows that this is the god-awful chapter of his life that will serve as inspiration for when he’s a famous movie director but right this second the seventeen bucks in his checking account and his dying laptop are really testing him. <br />
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When Sam and Penny cross paths it’s less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touch—via text—and soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>When I first heard about Emergency Contact I was pretty interested, firstly because the protagonist was a Korean and secondly because the author was a Korean. The premise of the story sounded pretty good as well- I love the trope of getting to know someone through technology before finally meeting them in person. I thought overall the book was quite good, although I did also feel that there was a slight lacking in the strength of the plot itself.<br />
<br />
I enjoyed reading about Sam and Penny. They're both introverted and have quite unique personalities. The relationships surrounding them were complex, in particular Penny's relationship with her mother and Sam's relationship with his ex-girlfriend. Despite the fluffy looking cover, the story was actually more slice-of-life style with darker themes.<br />
<br />
I feel like I should make mention of the Korean "own voices" rep. Disclaimer: I'm a Korean. I found that Penny's narrative voice, despite being written by a Korean, doesn't particularly feel like there was a lot of Korean culture behind it. Honestly, she could have been any race from all the mention of Korean culture there was in the novel. I suppose she was a second generation American born Korean, but even her mother didn't particularly feel Korean. In any case, this wasn't really a huge issue impacting on the story, just a personal slight disappointment that there wasn't a bit more focus on this aspect.<br />
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Overall, I thought Emergency Contact was a pretty good read. I would recommend it to those looking for a slightly darker college romance.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 7/10<br />
Plot: 3/5<br />
Romance: 3.5/5<br />
Writing: 3/5<br />
Characters: 3/5<br />
Cover: 3/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-35302958127318713242019-01-09T00:00:00.000+10:302019-01-09T00:00:04.562+10:30Navigating the Stars by Maria V SnyderTitle: Navigating the Stars<br />
Author: Maria V Snyder<br />
Genre: Science Fiction<br />
Source: Harlequin<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37801467-navigating-the-stars">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
New York Times bestselling author Maria Snyder returns with a compelling new sci-fi series. Perfect for fans of Star Wars and Poison Study.<br />
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Year 2471. A new discovery. Those three words thrill my parents – the galaxy's leading archaeologists – but for me, it means another time jump to a different planet. One so big, my friends will be older than my dad when we arrive. And I'll still be seventeen. Thanks, Einstein. I really can't blame Einstein, though. No one expected to find life–sized terracotta warriors buried on other planets. So off we go to investigate, traveling through space and time. With my social life in ruins, I fill my days illegally worming into the quantum net – the invention that allows us to travel in space. Of course the only person close to my age is a hot–but–pain–in–the–neck security officer who threatens to throw me into the brig. But when one of the warrior planets goes silent, we have bigger problems on our hands. The planet's entire population might be dead. And now my worming skills, along with a translation of an ancient alien artefact, might be the key to finding out why. But my attempts to uncover the truth lead to the discovery of a deadly new alien phenomenon, and also alert those who wish to keep it quiet. The galaxy is in real danger and time is not on our side… A page–turning story of courage and determination in the face of the unknown.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Set in the future, Navigating the Stars revolves around main character Lyra, and her parents, who are basically space archeologists. I was expecting more of an adventure/Tomb Raider style novel, especially as it feels like there's a big focus on the terracotta warriors, but instead it felt more like a light sci-fi with more focus on romance and character than action/adventure.<br />
<br />
I thought the book was a decent read, but it didn't hold up to the strength of her high fantasy novels. In particular, I felt that her world building was not up to the standard of many other science fiction novels I have read, leaving me wanting a little more foundation to the story. I was especially confused about some aspects of the VR-like technology and how Lyra used "worming" to somehow hack into other systems and repair broken files- this was never explained that well.<br />
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Overall, I think this would be an entry level YA science fiction novel.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 6/10<br />
Plot: 3/5<br />
Romance: 2.5/5<br />
Writing: 3/5<br />
World Building: 2/5<br />
Characters: 3/5<br />
Cover: 4/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-64168363301640580692019-01-04T14:26:00.000+10:302019-01-04T14:26:37.508+10:30The Wicked King by Holly BlackTitle: The Wicked King<br />
Author: Holly Black<br />
Genre: Fantasy<br />
Source: Allen & Unwin<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26032887-the-wicked-king">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.<br />
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The first lesson is to make yourself strong.<br />
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After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.<br />
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When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>My god.<br />
There is so much to love about this series.<br />
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There is an effortless and masterful balance that Holly Black is able to achieve to keep things so interesting, compelling and unique.<br />
- How empathetic you feel towards Jude despite her being so unlikeable on paper.<br />
- How ridiculously precarious the love and hate of the "romance" is<br />
- How fucking terrible Cardan is, but how much you like him in spite of it<br />
- How dangerous the line is that Jude is walking to keep her position of power<br />
This series is an absolute masterclass in magnificent chaos.<br />
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The scheming upon scheming upon scheming.<br />
You never know what to expect, and the ending is certainly not one that many will see coming.<br />
The plot is so, so intricate with each thread building on the next.<br />
All the different characters and the political intrigue and the ridiculous twists.<br />
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I can't believe I have to wait a year for The Queen of Nothing.<br />
And my fucking god, even the title is giving me anxiety.<br />
Especially after the ending of The Wicked King.<br />
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This is quite easily one of my favourite series and I recommend it to absolutely everyone.<br />
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<i>Incredible</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Favourite</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Panacea Candidate</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 10/10<br />
Plot: 5/5<br />
Romance: 5/5<br />
Writing: 5/5<br />
World Building: 5/5<br />
Characters: 5/5<br />
Cover: 4/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-62121199807372479642018-12-19T00:00:00.000+10:302018-12-19T00:00:03.786+10:30 Kiss Collector by Wendy HigginsTitle: Kiss Collector<br />
Author: Wendy Higgins<br />
Genre: Contemporary<br />
Source: HarperTeen<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18457118-kiss-collector">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
When seventeen-year-old Zae Monroe gets cheated on by the only guy she’s ever loved, then watches her parents' marriage crumble, she decides to forget about relationships and turn the tables on the boys of the world. It’s time to take what she wants, and what she wants are kisses. Athletes, musicians, poets, and bad boys—their lips are all on her agenda, and it's time to collect. <br />
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Zae proposes a contest with her friends to see who can kiss the most boys during spring break. But what starts as a harmless competition leads to a downward spiral she can’t seem to break free of. As family, academic, friend, and guy drama come to a head, Zae is forced to face the reasons behind her boy angst, and starts to wonder if she was wrong about the male race...or at least some of them. </blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>To be honest, the thing that was most suprising about The Kiss Collector was just how many parties there were throughout the novel. It seemed like there was one every day of the week! And it's not like it was university/college, it was just high school. I guess it was during the holidays, and I'm not sure if it's different in the US, but when I was in high school there definitely weren't that many parties on weekdays.<br />
<br />
Anyway, that point aside, I found The Kiss Collector (as you would probably expect from a title and cover like that) to be relatively simplistic and a quick/fun sort of read. I thought that Zae could have been more sympathetic as a character, which is likely the main reason why I wasn't able to rate the book higher. On the other hand, I very much enjoyed reading about the friendship between the Zae and her three best friends, which was actually a pretty dominant feature throughout the novel.<br />
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Overall, a contemporary read with a linear yet enjoyable plot.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 6/10<br />
Plot: 3/5<br />
Romance: 3/5<br />
Writing: 3/5<br />
Characters: 2.5/5<br />
Cover: 1/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-74076273741962296442018-12-15T00:00:00.000+10:302018-12-15T00:00:02.145+10:30The Disasters by M.K. EnglandTitle: The Disasters<br />
Author: M. K. England<br />
Genre: Science Fiction<br />
Source: HarperCollins<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32469736-the-disasters">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
Hotshot pilot Nax Hall has a history of making poor life choices. So it’s not exactly a surprise when he’s kicked out of the elite Ellis Station Academy in less than twenty-four hours.<br />
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But Nax’s one-way trip back to Earth is cut short when a terrorist group attacks the Academy. Nax and three other washouts escape—barely—but they’re also the sole witnesses to the biggest crime in the history of space colonization. And the perfect scapegoats.<br />
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On the run and framed for atrocities they didn’t commit, Nax and his fellow failures execute a dangerous heist to spread the truth about what happened at the Academy.<br />
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They may not be “Academy material,” and they may not get along, but they’re the only ones left to step up and fight.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The Disasters features the classic misfits band together and uncover a deadly plot trope that I love. Some people may say that it's a bit overused these days in YA, but I'm certainly not one of those people. I always enjoy seeing people of different backgrounds having to work together to solve problems.<br />
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There is a surprising amount of diversity in the novel, and the way it's written it doesn't come off as too far off in the future- it actually almost seems like a story that could be occurring right now despite the fact that it's set in various other planets. I thought the romance especially was actually pretty well done, and although it ended up being a relatively large aspect of the plot, it wasn't so much that it overshadowed the other more important main plotlines.<br />
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Overall a fast-paced and fun sci-fi adventure novel, would recommend it to those looking for a relatively light sci-fi.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Really liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 8/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Romance: 4/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
World Building: 4/5<br />
Characters: 4/5<br />
Cover: 2/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-83369956335404988922018-11-30T20:21:00.000+10:302019-01-01T18:08:33.628+10:30Undying by Amie Kaufman and Meagan SpoonerTitle: Undying<br />
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner<br />
Genre: Science Fiction<br />
Source: A&U<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26839798-undying">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
Trapped aboard the Undying's ancient spaceship and reeling from what they've learned there, scavenger Mia and academic Jules are plunged into a desperate race to warn their home planet of the danger humanity's greed has unleashed. From the mountains of Spain to the streets of Prague, the sequel to Unearthed is a white-knuckle ride that will send readers hurtling back to earth, and leave them breathless until the last page.<br />
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The earth's fate rests in Mia and Jules's hands in the epic conclusion to New York Times best-selling authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner's tomb-raiding sci-fi duology.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>I have to admit I didn't enjoy Undying quite as much as Unearthed. It doesn't have as much of the puzzle-solving, tomb-raiding feel of Unearthed, obviously because the main characters have already done it and are now heading back to Earth to warn everyone of the impending doom. On the other hand, it was still definitely an excellent book and there was a lot more action and adventure style of plot, with our characters travelling through various areas in a fast paced manner.<br />
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I very much enjoyed the "race to save earth" feel of the plot, and there were still quite a few mysteries to be solved, like where these aliens actually came from and what they mean to do when they get to earth. This is a very plot focused novel, and Kaufman and Spooner do a great job of keeping the pace up while keeping you on your toes with a few interesting twists.<br />
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A pretty decent conclusion to the duology, I would certainly recommend this series to those looking for a not-too-distant future style of science fiction novel with a focus on archeology and science as well as action and adventure.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Really liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 8/10<br />
Plot: 4/5<br />
Romance: 3/5<br />
Writing: 4/5<br />
World Building: 3.5/5<br />
Characters: 4/5<br />
Cover: 3/5<br />
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365200445147197440.post-85077298406893980082018-11-25T17:34:00.000+10:302018-11-25T17:34:55.756+10:30Shadow of the Fox by Julie KagawaTitle: Shadow of the Fox<br />
Author: Julie Kagawa<br />
Genre: High Fantasy<br />
Source: Harlequin<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672988-shadow-of-the-fox?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a><br />
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<blockquote>
One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos.<br />
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Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn.<br />
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Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.<br />
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There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.<br />
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With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.</blockquote>
Review by Nara<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I must say, I really enjoy reading Julie Kagawa's novels. They're always such fun books, with plot and characters that tend to be a little generic but very accessible and likeable all the same. Shadow of the Fox is a little different from her other novels, being a high fantasy. It honestly had such a classic plot that I could see in a manga or anime. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've read manga with similar storylines of an adventure where the protagonist has to go on an adventure and find different objects that combine for some sort of purpose.<br />
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The story so far in Shadow of the Fox isn't tangling with intricacies, but I'm actually quite enjoying how linear the plot is. There are quite a few different POVs, focusing mostly on the two main characters, but also some from others including the main villain. I'm also loving the Japanese influences- the nine tailed fox is especially one of my favourite Asian mythological creatures.<br />
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I'm certainly looking forward to further books in Kagawa's series. She tends to start off a little slower and end strongly so I'm already anticipating the next one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkZ1PZEjU_ETdvZ9pi31nkUx2X-BkUh-XStO45xquLa4i8K4VTKvv3rf_6yvZHE2YmfEtz-0LMTB793-OC9s_zy2l9S4iUOv0J91s3GwijZXv_kvhcQQFJMsN8mHMlRCVIC8PXC8-Q13J/s1600/5+stars+final.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="1580" height="40" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkZ1PZEjU_ETdvZ9pi31nkUx2X-BkUh-XStO45xquLa4i8K4VTKvv3rf_6yvZHE2YmfEtz-0LMTB793-OC9s_zy2l9S4iUOv0J91s3GwijZXv_kvhcQQFJMsN8mHMlRCVIC8PXC8-Q13J/s320/5+stars+final.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Really liked it</i></div>
Ratings<br />
Overall: 7/10<br />
Plot: 3/5<br />
Writing: 3/5<br />
World Building: 3/5<br />
Characters: 3/5<br />
Cover: 3/5<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5RP9YB6HwOZP6pKBKpmjofH2WUOsz91OqsHFegBVhCg-BWt6DHcW-LmC_VBFehL2meGFww4_SAw-ICyuw53KOqj1Z0I6T96Kdn06of7K_ixmzjhyphenhyphenUtBskDdtwatSoIzgNO8uMX7OVPEG/s1600/Signature+Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5RP9YB6HwOZP6pKBKpmjofH2WUOsz91OqsHFegBVhCg-BWt6DHcW-LmC_VBFehL2meGFww4_SAw-ICyuw53KOqj1Z0I6T96Kdn06of7K_ixmzjhyphenhyphenUtBskDdtwatSoIzgNO8uMX7OVPEG/s1600/Signature+Final.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<br />Narahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09378806643397167349noreply@blogger.com0