Allegiant

Goodreads Synopsis:    The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. 

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. 

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

My Thoughts:

-    I can see why people had a hard time with this book, but overall, I thought it was good.

-    I didn't like switching between Tris and Tobias's POV. It was confusing at times, and it took me a while to get used to Tobias. In the end, I understand why the author did the alternating POVs though.

-    There were some boring parts in the middle. I felt the characters were just talking about a lot of info. There was a lot of telling and not as much showing. All the info was important though, and I don't know how else the story could have explained everything.

-    The main thing that bugged me about this book was how Tobias and Tris fought like children. It was so immature, and it really bugged me. I felt like Tobias took a big step backwards in his maturity. He kind of threw fits, and the stuff that came out of his mouth was so dumb.

-    My honest opinion of the end is that I'm okay with it. The decision Tris made was very much in her character. I felt like all three books were building her character into making this decision. Her parents would be proud of her.

-    The author is gutsy!

-    As far as the overall problem with the government and the people, I didn't feel like it was totally resolved. I still feel like the whole civilization could still turn into turmoil, and I would have liked the characters to resolve the whole government and gene thing. 

-    Overall, it wasn't amazing, but I thought it was good. 

Previous Books

(covers are linked)

 

American Born Chinese

My Synopsis:

-    The book is about three stories. 

-    The first is about a boy named Jin Wang. He is new at his school, and he just wants to fit in and make friends, maybe even take his crush out on a date.

-    The second story is about the monkey king. I remember watching this old Chinese fable on wishbone. The monkey king wants to become more than what he is. He even challenges the gods.

-    The third story is about Danny. His super annoying Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee, is visiting him. Chin-Kee is making life miserable and embarrassing for Danny.


My Thoughts:

-    I was not expecting this book to be so crazy, silly, and confusing. It was awesome in a weird sort of way.

-    I knew these stories would all make sense in the end, and I was surprised on how they converged. The three stories seem so different, but they are connected.

-    I liked the illustrations and the way the some of the panels showed movement and action. I also liked that this one was in color.

-    This book had a good message. I liked that! After all the craziness, there was a lesson to learn.

-    I can definitely see why this book won an award! 

Friends with Boys

Goodreads Synopsis:    After years of homeschooling, Maggie is starting high school. It's pretty terrifying.

Maggie's big brothers are there to watch her back, but ever since Mom left it just hasn't been the same. 

Besides her brothers, Maggie's never had any real friends before. Lucy and Alistair don't have lots of friends either. But they eat lunch with her at school and bring her along on their small-town adventures.

Missing mothers...distant brothers...high school...new friends... It's a lot to deal with. But there's just one more thing.

MAGGIE IS HAUNTED.

My Thoughts:

-    The illustrations are awesome! I really love the art style! It is one of my favorites!

-    The characters were really fun and relateable. I remember going through some of these situations and feelings in school.

-    I wanted more story about Maggie's mom. Why did she leave? What happened to her?

-    I liked the dynamic between Maggie and her brothers. I can relate!

-    I usually blow through graphic novels pretty fast, but I really wanted to savor this one. It was good!

Fan Art Friday

You guys are gonna love today's fan art!

I'll be showcasing:

I need to read more Maggie Stiefvater! I loved this book! 

I'll get around to Raven Boys one of these days.

I was really pleased with the variety of pictures I found!

I love all of these, but the first one is my favorite. 

The scene with all the horses on the beach is awesome! 

Which is your favorite?

Feel free to leave Fan Art Friday requests!

Level Up

My Synopsis:

-    Dennis Ouyang is intrigued by video games. When the NES comes out, he freaks! 

-    Sadly, Dennis's father thinks  that video games are waste of time and money.

-    Dennis is weighed down by his father's rules and expectations, but when his father passes away, FREEDOM!

-    Dennis becomes an all out gamer! However, his gaming gets in the way of his studies, and Dennis is floundering in school.

-    Some "messengers" come to help Dennis fulfill his destiny (aka the life his father wanted him to have), and Dennis decides to give up his gaming ways.

-    Dennis doesn't hate his new life, but he doesn't love it either. He must choose his own way of life instead of doing what his father would want him to do.

My Thoughts:

-    I LOVE the cover of this book. I often held it like a real Gameboy and pretended to hit the buttons. 

-    The story made me reminisce about the good ole' days of playing Mario and other games. The NES was a good console.

-    For me, the story wasn't really finished. I wanted a little more at the end. 

-    The "angels" were creepy! I would hate to be haunted by those things, but I would appreciate all the help with chores.

-    I like that Dennis makes new friends in med school, and I like that school isn't totally miserable in his new life.

-    The illustrations were fun and really simple. I think it would have been cool if the illustrations had been done to look like 8-bit.

-    Not my favorite graphic novel, but it was fun. A definite must-read for gamers!

Top Ten Tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Reasons I Love Being a Blogger/Reader

Other bloggers/readers

Meeting authors with friends

The thrill of winning awesome bookish stuff!

I've decided that Pinterest describes things better than I do, so . . . 

Rapunzel's Revenge

Goodreads Bit:    Once upon a time, in a land you only think you know, lived a little girl and her mother . . . or the woman she thought was her mother.

Every day, when the little girl played in her pretty garden, she grew more curious about what lay on the other side of the garden wall . . . a rather enormous garden wall.

And every year, as she grew older, things seemed weirder and weirder, until the day she finally climbed to the top of the wall and looked over into the mines and desert beyond.

Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale teams up with husband Dean Hale and brilliant artist Nathan Hale (no relation) to bring readers a swashbuckling and hilarious twist on the classic story as you've never seen it before. Watch as Rapunzel and her amazing hair team up with Jack (of beanstalk fame) to gallop around the wild and western landscape, changing lives, righting wrongs, and bringing joy to every soul they encounter.

My Thoughts:

-    A triple Hale book. There was no way for this book to not be good!

-    The illustrations are, of course, beautiful and amazing.

-    I feel like Disney used this book in a lot of their planning for Tangled. 

-    I liked the duo of Jack and Rapunzel. They are funny together. Rapunzel is spunky and fearless, and Jack is funny and clever. 

-    I love the charm and humor that Shannon brings to this story.

-    I read this to my 3 year old, and she loved it! It was really fun and cute, and I love that it entertained me and her.

-    I didn't even realize who Jack was until the end! I felt dumb! 

-    I like how other fairy tales made there way into Rapunzel's story.

-    Overall, this is a fun fun fun book! Read it!

Fan Art Friday

Showcasing

Since it's Valentine's Day, I thought I'd feature one of my literature heartthrobs.

Although, none of these pictures portray Valek the way I see him.

Which is your favorite?

p.s.

Happy Valentine's Day

Q&A

I'll ask the questions, you provide the answers.  Ready?

Do you like the book descriptions copied from

Goodreads, or do you prefer the blogger to write their 

own synopsis of the book?

My Thoughts:

-    I've been thinking of writing my own synopsis for books on my blogs, but I don't know if it really matters to my readers. 

-    I might have a hard time trying to describe the book without spoilers, but I'm kinda excited for the challenge.

The Iron Knight

Goodreads Synopsis:    My name - my True Name - is Ashallayn’ darkmyr Tallyn. I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her. My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase - a half human, half fey slip of a girl - smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end - a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan's side.

To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Thoughts:

-    Not my favorite of the series, but it was good. At least I'm not anguishing over the end of The Iron Queen anymore.

-    I wanted an epilogue or something. I want to know how Meghan and Ash are doing!

-    I don't know how I feel about the book being from Ash's perspective. I know this couldn't be from Meghan's POV, but it was weird reading from a new perspective. I loved that Ash was mysterious and quiet. I was always wondering what he was thinking. This book took all that mystery and wondering away. 

-    I like that Ash had to go through this incredible journey to be with Meghan again. He really is a knight in shining armor.

-    I don't know why we needed Puck in this story. I'm glad Ash and Puck were able to put differences aside, but Puck wasn't really needed. I don't understand why Puck would help Ash. He loves Meghan too. Why wasn't he trying to get a soul? I feel like Puck gave up too quickly.

-    I loved the trials. Those darn fey underestimate us humans!

-    The Big Bad Wolf is introduced in this book, and I really liked him. I liked the dynamic between him and Grimalken. 

-    I had a really big problem with the other character that joined our heroes on their journey, but my issues with her were resolved in the end, so I'm happy. 

-    This was a very fitting ending to the Iron Fey series! Well done!

Previous Iron Fey Books:

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  

Top Ten Tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon

(Covers are linked to my thoughts)

 
 
 
 

I haven't read this, but if it's anything like the BBC version, then it has plenty of fall on your butt swooning.



I will swoon at any book where I can picture the leading man as:

Ya, you're welcome!