Anji Books
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Personal Blog

Anji Books

Books. Reviews. Recommendations.

Goodreads

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

7/18/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Imagine a dystopian future where, after twenty years of living in chaos, the world is finally coming into order. Who has risen up to bring order back into society? Superheroes, of course. 
Renegades follows two protagonists leading very opposite lives. One was raised among the superheroes, and believes there is no greater cause. The other was raised to hate superheroes and everything they stand for. 
Nova Artino despises the Renegades, which is what the superheroes have taken to call themselves. She is the youngest member of a fallen rebel group called the Anarchists. The Anarchists stand for freedom, freedom for the prodigies-- people with powers-- but they are, for the most part, seen as the cause that threw the world into turmoil for twenty whole years. The Anarchists are the villains of the story... or so the people think. Not only does she hate the Renegades for her cause, but she also has her own personal reasons to detest them. 
Meanwhile, Adrian Everhart was brought up with two of the most famous superheroes as his parents. He believes in the system with all his heart, and has always looked down upon the villains.  Still, Adrian is on a mission, and the only person who can help him solve this mission is a super villain named Nightmare. The issue is, he has no idea how to find her... but she may be closer than he thinks. 
Something I really enjoyed about the book was simply the diversity and uniqueness of the superpowers, especially for our main characters. Nova (Nightmare) has the power of being able to put other people to sleep & also to not need to sleep at all. Adrian (Sketch) has the superpower of bringing any drawing to life. Then you have both of their "teams." On Nova's team, there's a character with the ability to make explosives out of the gases in their air, and another who can control any type of bee and wasp. Adrian's team has a girl who can turn into monarch butterflies and a girl whose blood, when cut, turns into weapons. I mean, those are pretty uncommon powers that you don't see very often, eh? 
I also love the trope of two main characters being on opposite sides-- like a relationship (friendship or romantic) that is complicated by them being low-key each other's enemies. Sorry, bad wording but you get the point-- think of Magneto and Professor X. I also love the trope of the wolf in sheep's clothing, disguise but falling for their own con a little. This book has all of that. It's so much fun to watch this sort of relationship get set up over the course of the novel-- and I look forward to seeing it to a more extreme in upcoming books. 
Renegades is fun and well written-- just as you'd expect from the author of the Lunar Chronicles. (Ah THOSE ARE GOOD BOOKS!) and exciting. The plot and characters are interesting, and I really look forward to seeing where these characters and their relationships are going-- especially after the ending of the book. While the ultimate TWIST was something I suspected, there were quite a few cliches I was expecting to happen that just didn't. 
Nova had to be my favorite character-- she's a badass, and also not a good guy. She's more complicated than someone just doing things to be good, she has her own reasons and motivations. She can be selfish. I love that about her. I also love her relationship with the Anarchists. While the rest of the world views them as villains, they're her family. The people that raised her, and that makes their relationship and the way I view them all the more interesting. And while I think superheroes would be awesome, I also agree with the point she's trying to make throughout the book that powers don't make heroes, and that people need to step up and be a hero when needed-- even without powers to assist them. 
Also just a little side note-- the front of the book has a cast of characters, introducing each character with their allegiances and powers, which really helps to sort out who is who and what they can do-- it was something I was flipping back to frequently during the beginning of my read through. 
I would give Renegades 7/10 stars, it was a really well written and fun novel. I would highly recommend to anyone who appreciates superhero stories. While there are parts that move a bit slowly, the characters and plot make up for it. 

Synopsis: 

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies — humans with extraordinary abilities — who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone... except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice — and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.


SPOILERS
Let me just say I was really disappointed in Ingrid, not the writing of Ingrid but the character's choices. Like, I really enjoyed seeing Nova with all these "totally evil" characters who were really just people fighting for something they believed in-- and they really did act like a family together, which I thought was very sweet. The way the Anarchists were connected was probably one of my favorite if not my favorite relationship of the book. They were like a family, a very dysfunctional family. And they weren't these badass bad guys, either. Queen Bee was kinda crazy, in a lovable way-- but not what you'd expect from one of the most feared beings in the world. 
Ingrid really seemed like the most down to earth Anarchist and I was hoping to get a good relationship out of her and Nova, but she turned out to be super evil and back-stabby so... Yeah, no, I'm disappointed in you, Ingrid. 
The big twist at the end-- that Alec was alive wasn't too much of a surprise from me. There was some very good subtle hinting towards it, and well, I was really secretly hoping in the pit of my stomach that he would be alive. I enjoyed the brief sightings we saw between Alec and Nova, and am looking forward to seeing more. 
Anyway, that's really all I have to say other than I'm really looking forward to reading he next one! 
​-Anj
0 Comments

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

6/26/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Once again Emma Mills proves her outstanding ability to write an absolutely adorable romance and story in her novel This Adventure Ends. Mills previously displayed her prowess in her debut novel, First & Then, which was an equally adorable and quirky adventure that I highly recommend if you're in the mood for a cutesy romance. 
Like First & Then, This Adventure Ends isn't solely a romance book. While First & Then concentrated on the idea of family, This Adventure Ends expands its boundaries out to friendships as well. And boy, do I love the relationships in all of Mills' novels. She sets them up in such a compelling and realistic way that it's impossible not to get attached to the relationships, both romantic and platonic. 
While there was a romantic undertone to this novel, it was a undertone. There, but definitely not the most important highlight of the novel. The most important being the friendships made throughout the book. It was very enjoyable watching Sloane, the book's slightly lonerish protagonist, make friends and then watching those relationships build. 
The characters are so genuine and real that it feels almost as if they might step out of the book at any moment. The entire novel, actually, felt very realistic, while also being entirely too cute and adorable to handle-- it's definitely not stereotypical. 
Sloane isn't your typical loaner, at least, she's not the image that pops into my head when the word "loaner" is mentioned. What I mean when I say that Sloane is a bit of a loaner is that she's never really had any close friends. She had friends, but none of them close enough to even make her want to stay in her hometown (city?) of New York when her parents wanted to move right before her senior year. Sloane is funny in a sarcastic, deadpan manner that I appreciate. While she's not exactly the expert on relationships, it's fun to watch her stumble through actually forming real bonds of friendship in her new town. 
Meet Vera and Gabe, two twins who couldn't be more different. Vera is a vivacious, effervescent girl who everyone can't help but love. Meanwhile, the book at first describes Gabe as being "serious." Something that made me a bit nervous because I don't like a very serious guy. Luckily, it wasn't the sort of serious that I was thinking. It actually makes whenever Gabe actually does crack a joke or laugh all the more rewarding. He's a bit socially awkward, which I love. While I love a confidant guy, I also love my socially awkward boys. Really, I guess it's not all that hard to impress me when it comes to book boys, haha. I love these twins, because of their relationships with Sloane as well as their presence throughout the book. Like I said before, the characters are very well fleshed out, and they feel so real... It's hard not to fall in love with any and all of them. 
I'll be completely honest with you, I've had this book sitting on my shelf for longer than I'd like to admit. I actually had it the day it came out (thanks, Amazon prime pre-orders), but did I read it? No. Why? Because well, I didn't really feel compelled to do so. I was worried Mills' magic from First & Then would be lacking in this novel, and also the idea of hunting down a portrait just didn't hook me. Sometimes I just really hate myself, and this is one of those times. Similar to me avoiding reading Better Off Friends, it was really just a dumb mistake. I could've experienced the joy and happiness This Adventure Ends had to share years ago! But I waited until now because... Because I just didn't feel like reading it. Ugh. Why, Anji? Why? I will not make that mistake again and have already bought Mills' most recent release and plan to read it ASAP. 
Anyway, getting off track, I'm giving this book 8/10 stars because I absolutely loved it. It had me cringing at the embarrassing moments, laughing at the funny ones and grinning like a maniac most of the time I was having the pleasure of reading it. (Also side comment-- can we just appreciate how cute and aesthetically pleasing all of the covers for Mills' novels are??) I highly recommend this one, and hope you all enjoying reading it as much as I did! 

Synopsis: 

Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.

Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives.

Filled with intense and important friendships, a wonderful warts-and-all family, shiveringly good romantic developments, and sharp, witty dialogue, this story is about finding the people you never knew you needed.

SPOILERS BELOW

I love how realistic the ending is. While you would want them to get their painting back... Most of the time, that wouldn't happen. That would've been the "fairytale" ending, and, given how realistic the rest of the novel is, that wouldn't seem right. Also, the painting isn't the point! It's the motivation for finding the painting. 
I also would like to comment on OH MY GOD. Gabe and Sloane. Love their relationship and the slow burn of it. I mean, I knew he was asking her out, but clearly Sloane didn't catch on the first time. And the tucking in part? I was dying from the cuteness there. 
0 Comments

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

6/23/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
You've played the game once, now it's time to enter again. You must remember that everything in Caraval isn't real. It's just a game... isn't it? 

"This was why love was so dangerous. Love turned the world into a garden, so beguiling it was easy to forget that rose petals were as ephemeral as feelings, eventually they would wilt and die, leaving nothing but thorns."

Legendary is book 2 in the wonderful and mystical Caraval trilogy by Stephanie Garber. The series follows a pair of sisters, Scarlett and Donatella Dragna. Scarlett constantly lives in fear, fear of her father and fear for her sister. She's the protector, always playing it safe in order to keep her and her sister alive. Donatella  is vibrant, and very much so wants to live her life to the fullest. In other words, not to live in fear. Caraval, the first book, follows Scarlett as she plays a game, and not just any game, Caraval. Caraval is where everything feels real, but you can't trust your senses, because it's possible nothing is real. The game is a series of clues, leading to an end goal, and the winner is granted one wish from the Caraval's magical creator, Legend, a man who is never seen, but who everyone has heard of. The issue is the game feels real, you don't know who is an actor, planted to create a more interested game, or another player. Scarlett doesn't intend to play Caraval... but when her sister is taken and the only way she can get her back is to win, she must join in. The first book was amazing, and I highly recommend it. If you have yet to read Caraval, feel free to go check out my review of it-- and don't read any further here! You're about to be spoiled on the first book. Stop reading now if you have yet to read the first book. 
While Caraval was told from Scarlett's point of view, Legendary is told from Donatello's, or "Tella's." If I'm being completely honest, I bought the book but didn't immediately pick it up. I wasn't all that excited to read it-- I remembered how much I enjoyed Caraval, but I also remembered that I wasn't the biggest fan of Tella. The end of Caraval actually felt like a good ending, too, so I wasn't even hooked enough to feel a need to read this book. 
Boy, was I wrong.
While Caraval was good, Legendary was spectacular. It managed to retain all the mystery and intrigue of the first book, while adding in higher stakes and all together a more enthralling plot. Perhaps part of what made Legendary so, well, legendary was that I was already attached to (some) of the characters and their fates, and I also already knew the world, and therefore did not need to be introduced to it. 
Of course, I didn't actually remember the details of the first book, since it had been a year since I'd last read it, but I did remember the general feel of the book. Let me just tell you, this book was so good, that I just had to go and read the first book again, just to remember what happened, and pick up on the hints that I'd missed from what I know now. AND IT WAS SO WORTH IT!!! AHH. Sorry, I'm just freaking out, I'm still in shock and am amazed at just how astoundingly perfect this book was. I may not have been a fan of Tella before, but now I definitely love her. 

"She was bold. She was brave. She was cunning. And she was going to come out of this triumphant-- no matter the cost." 


Caraval also was not the end of Scarlett or Julian's story, either. Their story continues on in this one, with them being not as involved in the plot as the first, but still having some stuff going on. In fact, I found myself missing Scarlett a bit whilst reading this book, and wishing we did get to see into her head, just to see her thoughts on some occurrences in the story. 
Legendary just constantly keeps you guessing. On what's real, what's happening, who's what, what's going on, what is real, what is fake, what is ANYTHING. Yeah, you might think you have a leg up, a more solid footing after reading the first book. You're familiar with Caraval, after all, so shouldn't you have an easier time figuring things out? NO. You're guessing, and then you're second guessing, and then you're third guessing every single thing. There's just occurrences in the game you need to figure out, trying to find out peoples' motives and whatnot, and then there's the big question you'd been wondering since book one: Who the **** (you can fill in any word you'd like there) is Legend? At times you may be thinking AHA so he's Legend. And then it's like nope, he's Legend. Nope he's Legend. And then you just start questioning your own existence because why not. 
It's still a game, still a complicated puzzle to figure out, but this time the stakes are so much higher. Because the game... some of the game is real. Here you're introduced to lore. The Fates are magical beings who once ruled the world like tyrants... and now it seems they may be back. 
I find it amazing that this is Stephanie Garber's first series, because the writing is impeccable, the story is flawless, the characters are well rounded, and the plot is engrossing. It's a perfectly crafted world. Legendary didn't even fall down the hole of a being a letdown after a first spectacular book. It exceeded the first book's standards. I would give Legendary 9/10 stars and highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. If you chose not to immediately pick this book up with similar reservations as me, ignore them! Pick it up now! You won't regret it. This series earned a place on my fvaroties shelf, and I'm am throughly pumped for the next book-- what do you mean I HAVE TO WAIT ALMOST ANOTHER YEAR?!!!! Ugh. Talk about torture here. 
Anyway, here's the synopsis: 

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.


SPOILERS 
Wow, I just... this book was just so amazing. Jacks. Dante. WHAT EVEN IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT BOOK? HOW WILL ANYTHING BE FIXED? HOW. WHAT IS WITH DANTE? WHAT IS WITH JACKS? WHO IS TELLA GOING TO END UP WITH? WHO THE fudge knows. 
Dante is Legend. Legend is Dante. I went back and read Caraval and IT WAS SO HINTED THERE. Like haha Marcello killed Dante thinking he was killing Legend... AND HE WAS RIGHT! And also just like throughout the book is was hinted towards him, so knowing what I know, rereading Caraval was so satisfying-- seeing everyone's reactions to Julian too.... Wow. It's so with rereading. I'm planning on rereading Legendary soon too, just to see all the hints towards Dante being Legend. 
I thought Dante might be Legend, and throughout the book I was feeling more certain that he was. But every time I was feeling slightly solid on who Legend was, I was like wait... could it be Julian though? Honestly, it was so confusing. 
I did really love Dante and Tella from the very beginning of the book. Their banter gave me life. Also the part where he was literally spying and heard she said he as a bad kisser HA. So good. Such a quality book. Ah. Just perfect. And then Dante got mad at Armando when he insults Scarlett... cute. Cute. 
Also when you realize the word moment that like even though Tella and Julian didn't do anything in the first book and neither did Dante and Scarlett, both were kinda like almost doing stuff with each other and I think that's weirdly ironic as well as the fact that they're both siblings dating each other's siblings. 
And speaking of dating. Let's just talk about Scarlett and Julian's relationship. I loved the strain on it in this book. Maybe because I'm just a dramatic bitch, but I really enjoyed that their story is far from over. I love how committed Julian is to try and keep Scarlett won over (because yes, I do love Julian), but I also love that Scarlett really stood up for herself and was like yeah, not now, Julian. The drama of their relationship was quite enjoyable. Like, if they don't end up together I'm gonna be mad, but I love that there's still drama in it. Also some people probably hate Scarlett for playing Julian and D'Arcy at the end of the book, but I think it's going to be fun to read about. I'm really looking forward to it, haha. As long as Julian wins out in the end. But YESS I'm really looking forward to that small bit in the next book (it's going to be relatively irrelevant compared to the issues with the fates... but still.) 
And then we can't forget to talk about Jacks. While I really like Dante and Tell's relationship, I'm intrigued about Jacks. (also Jacks like the Jack of hearts? IDK he does turn people in cards). Like Tella is his true love, she made his heart beat again... Surely that has to mean something. I'm quite looking forward to seeing the complexity of that relationship in the next book. 

Anyway, thanks for reading! 
​Anji
0 Comments

Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

6/23/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
The stakes have never been higher, step in the wrong place and your life is forfeit. An unexplored world, recently discovered through a coded message. A race to find materials that could possibly save Earth from its oncoming peril, but what if there's a catch?
Unearthed is the first book in a sci-fi duology by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. Their names sound familiar to you? That's because they're the pair who wrote the New York Times Bestselling series of Starbound (These Broken Stars, This Shattered World and Their Fractured Light). These two are a sci-fi force to be reckoned with. They had a lot to live up to after their  Starbound books... And they lived up to, if not surpassed those. Unearthed is an exciting novel with compelling characters and an even more fascinating plot. Though it started off a little slow, you're sure to be sucked in the world before you even know it, and soon enough it'll be three AM and you're still reading... Maybe that was just my experience, though, haha. 
Unearthed takes place on a recently discovered planet, which was once occupied by a now extinct race that the humans have named the "Undying" due to their last message left to humanity. Meet Mia Radcliffe, a scavenger who has snuck onto Gaia to steal expensive technology. Now meet Jules Addison, a scholar who's determined to find the meaning behind a second, hidden message behind the first. Through a strange twist of fate, the two have to end up working together... and little do they know just how much they'll need to rely on each other or the perils the will soon face. 
I absolutely loved the relationship between Jules and Mia. I enjoyed watching how it progressed throughout the book. And I loved the tension and mistrust built between the two characters due to their differing motives and goals. And I'm not just talking about tension from mistrust heheh. 
The beginning isn't exactly a slow start. It actually jumps right into the action, which I loved, but it feels slow in comparison to later in the book, due to actually very speedy pacing as well as a stronger connection to the characters you are reading about. Seriously, this book is absolutely riveting, you're not going to want to tear your eyes away, the plot just keeps getting thicker and thicker. Unearthed is a race, to survive and to find... whatever they're looking for before others do. It's exciting-- I swear my heart was racing during several key moments, and I was reading faster the faster the story went. That's just how engrossing this story really is. 
I'll admit, I wasn't actually all that excited to start this book-- it was sitting on my bookshelf for a while due to a busy school time. Then, on my yearly camping trip I brought the book along and picked it up just to pass the time. Little did I know i was about to be swept away in a planet far, far away. Haha. Anyway, I'd give Unearthed 8/10 stars, it was a fantastic and enthralling book. Definitely one to add to the favorites shelf. I highly recommend if you want to go on a heart-pounding adventure with a compelling plot and intriguing characters. It has action, it has adventure, high stakes and a sprig of romance. What else could you possibly want?
Here's the synopsis: 

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.

In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race...


SPOILERS
OH. MY. GOD. The sexual tension between Mia and Jules was PRIME. I absolutely loved the slow burn of the romance, I hate instalove. I love Mia and Jules' relationship, especially with the distrust and betrayal mixed in. The moment they finally kissed was so rewarding, and then the funny little dialog added after about yeah of course I had to follow you, I didn't know if the kissing was over and I couldn't miss out on that. AHA. 
I was a little disappointed at first with the big hidden thing being a spaceship, but with that ending? It was totally okay. Of course, I was suspicious from the beginning that the Undying were actually humans and I WAS RIGHT! I'm thinking they were probably the people from the colony that was briefly mentioned? Like they were in trouble and the people of Earth refused to help but they survived and now want revenge? I don't know. 

Anyway, thanks for reading! 
​-Anj
0 Comments

More Mini Reviews: Three Dark Crowns, Thunderhead and A Court of Frost and Starlight

6/14/2018

0 Comments

 
I know, you're all sick of hearing (or reading) these words-- I'm so sorry for not posting regularly. Junior year was especially busy with a lot of pressure... But here I am! I also didn't actually read that many books due to a negative amount of free time, so I didn't actually have that many books to review, but I did read a few, and I am ashamed to say I am disgustingly behind on reviews. So behind that I don't think it would actually be worthwhile to write full on reviews of these books-- it's been too long since I've read them. Here I'll just give the synopsis, my general feel of the book and if I recommend it or not. Alright, here we go. 
Picture
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake 
Wow. There was so much hype about this book, and I was falling for none of it. The synopsis just didn't interest me enough to actually buy the book and read it, that is, until my friend asked me if I'd read it and said it was on her reading list. That, of course, piqued my interest-- if it was a good book and my friend read it, I couldn't miss out! Plus if we both liked it we could have some great in depth talks about it. So I immediately ordered it and read it as soon as possible. 
Unfortunately, the reading experience was not as I'd hoped it would be. To be blunt, the book was dull for me. There was never a moment whilst reading it when I didn't feel like I could simply put the book down and never think about it again. I'd heard that it was like that, but there was a turning point, so I waited. And waited. There was no turning point. The entire book just felt dull and boring. There wasn't really any good buildup with the relationships, suddenly there was just love in some circumstances. Really, you can't expect me to fall for that. For those of you who know me-- I hate instalove plots. Even if one of the romances was not insta, I still didn't have any emotional connection to it. There was hardly any buildup, there was some, but not enough for me to even care at all. (Y'all probably know which one I'm talking about, if you read the novel.) Any relationship in general in this book ranging from romance to friendships just wasn't anything I connected with therefore anything I cared about. 
I know I'm in the minority and a ton of people are in love with these novels, but I'm sorry. I tried to like this book, I really did, but I just couldn't. The only time I was even slightly interested and not feeling bored to death was in the last few lines of the entire novel. And it most certainly is not enough interest for me to carry into reading the next book. 
The concept of the series is great, but the writing structure and just how the general plot was played out just didn't work for me. The series is about an island divided into three factions: the Naturalists, Elementals and the Poisoners. The Naturalists are good with anything to do with nature, they all have "familiars" which are animals bonded to them. The Elementals can control the elements. The Poisoners can ingest any amount of poison and still be fine. The island is ruled by a queen, and becoming queen is a dirty process. Each reigning queen bears triplets, and each triplet is one of the three types of powers. These girls are separated at youth, and trained to hone their powers. At the age of 16 they have to duke it out, and the surviving sister is crowned queen. 
In this novel, each sister has a bit of an issue. Mirabella, the elemental, is very strong, and it's predicted that she will win the competition, ending the Poisoner faction's reign. Her issue? She doesn't want to kill her sisters. The other two, Arsinoe and Katharine, are having trouble even getting in touch with their powers... If they don't have any powers to fight with, how could either ever become queen? This novel is not the actual competition to becoming queen, only the events leading up to it (which is disappointing, maybe the actual competition would be more interesting? I guess I'll never know.) 
Here's the real synopsis: 

Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose … it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown.

If only it was that simple. Katharine is unable to tolerate the weakest poison, and Arsinoe, no matter how hard she tries, can’t make even a weed grow. The two queens have been shamefully faking their powers, taking care to keep each other, the island, and their powerful sister Mirabella none the wiser. But with alliances being formed, betrayals taking shape, and ruthless revenge haunting the queens’ every move, one thing is certain: the last queen standing might not be the strongest … but she may be the darkest.

​If you're intrigued, by all means, pick up the novel. I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority of not enjoying the book, hopefully you'll be in the majority. I'd give Three Dark Crowns 3-4/10 stars. I'm sorry, I just didn't enjoy the novel. 
Picture
Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman 
After reading Scythe, I was pretty excited about this novel. And I was not at all disappointed, if anything, my expectations were exceeded. I'm not really sure how that was possible, but it happened. This had none of the world building the fist book did, which made it launch straight into the action. AH. I can't express how much I loved this book, and how much it pains me to wait for the next one. 8.5/10 stars. It was the best. 
I don't have much to say other than if you read and enjoyed Scythe, you HAVE to read Thunderhead, it's even better than the first. I really just can't wait for the next book. I think I might've screamed a little when it ended, HOW CAN A NOVEL END LIKE THAT?! It was both beautiful and heartbreaking, that's all I'm going to say other than READ IT. 
Synopsis: 
​
Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in the second novel of the chilling New York Times bestselling series from Neal Shusterman, author of the Unwind dystology.

Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. In the year since Winter Conclave, he has gone off-grid, and has been striking out against corrupt scythes—not only in MidMerica, but across the entire continent. He is a dark folk hero now—“Scythe Lucifer”—a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames.

Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the “new order” scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone—or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being “deadish” so she can communicate with the Thunderhead—the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?
Picture
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas 
I have mixed feelings about this book. Whilst reading it, I, for the most part, was loving it. Getting to  return to my favorite characters was amazing, I loved seeing Rhys and Feyre together again. It restored my faith in Sarah to write these characters perfectly again. Looking back, though, there were some issues with this book, such as some random add ins that were clearly just set ups for more stories. For instance, there's a random chapter from Mor in the book that literally has no relevance to anything other than to just show there's something darker... I did enjoy the tensions set up in the novel, but if you're looking for a book with a carried out plot, this one isn't for you. This book isn't a book, it's just a window into the lives of the leaders of the Night Court. 
6-7/10 stars, I loved the experience of reading it, but it had quite a few flaws. The end view into the next book series has me hype, though. I'm hoping the Nesta x Cassian series will be similar to ACOMAF in the way that Cassian helps Nesta journey through to overcoming her mental battles. I can't wait.

Hope warms the coldest night.

Feyre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve. 

Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated--scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court.

Thanks for reading! 
-Anj 
0 Comments

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

1/13/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
"And yet none of those things seems valuable anymore. None of those are true power. True power isn't granted. True power can't be taken away." 

Holly Black's novel, The Dark Prince, is a dark story full of intrigue, cruel beauty and twists around every corner. If you're tired of cliched plot lines, The Cruel Prince is the book for you. It's an extremely original story with twisted characters. There's no 'good,' everyone has their faults, and boy, are they big faults. You might even call them evils. 
I loved this novel, it really was a great way to start off the year, entirely different from what I was expecting. There was no way I could've predicted the end of the novel from the first few chapters, the story's motives keep changing and expanding.
Of course, going into the book I wasn't sure what to expect either. I've never read a Holly Black book, but after this one I'm sure I'll be trying another one of her stories soon. Before reading The Cruel Prince, I wasn't sure if it was modern day or if it had a fantasy setting. All I knew was that there were faeries, the protagonist was a human living amongst them, and that there was, well, a cruel prince. All elements that are bound to draw me to the story to begin with-- I love faeries. And I love "mean" characters, because there's usually a reason for their malice, and the meaner the better the backstory. 
Just everything about this novel was a pleasant surprise. It was modern day, but that didn't take away from the aura of the faeries. Where the story begins and ends are drastically different places, despite the book not taking place over a long length of time. Priorities change very quickly over the course of the story, and I loved that. 
This book is a combination of telling the story of a complicated family relationship, harassment, magic, and courtly politics. How do you fit those all together smoothly into a story? I have no idea, but somehow Holly Black was able to make it work. Somehow you get a modern tone in a world feels anything but. The book deals with modern, seemingly un-fantasical issues like bullying at school, while also depicting magic and the intrigue of court. I just can't emphasize how amazed I am at how smoothly and well this book read despite the combination of different topics. It's one of the main factors in making this book seem very original and different from most other stories. 
While I can't promise the story has a fast start, it's not exactly slow either. From almost the first few pages I felt like I was sucked into the story. Not because there were any particularly BIG events and plot twists to draw my attention, no, the story had to set those up first. No, I was drawn in because of the narration. The tone, and... the setting. I don't know, everything just seemed to make me want to stay in the novel, to continue because I knew it was going to get even more interesting soon. Not that I was bored... I don't know how to explain it. I guess I could say that I was ​intrigued from the very beginning, and then my investment in the story only grew from there. 

"The odd thing about ambition is this: You can acquire it like a fever, but it is not so easy to shed." 

The rest of the quote is real interesting but it's spoilery so... 

Jude is The Cruel Prince's protagonist. She's a human living in the faerie world... which makes her life extremely complicated. To her and everyone around her, she looks inferior to their immortal perfection. Yet Jude is determined to prove her worth. She's quite the ideal protagonist. She's a fighter, not one to be pushed over (as you will quickly realize), and her morals are far from perfect. Jude is twisted. She's lived in a twisted world of clever deceit for so long that she's basically become part of it. What I'm trying to say is that Jude isn't exactly good. I wouldn't categorize her as an anti-hero, but she certainly isn't a full on hero, either. Jude falls somewhere in-between, which is part of why she's such a fun protagonist to follow. 

"You're like a story that hasn't happened yet. Because I want to see what you will do. I want to be part of the unfolding of the story." (okay, that might not be quoted correctly, sorry, I have picture and the quote moves onto another page.) 

Then there's Cardan, the cruel prince. And boy, he is pretty cruel. He certainly wasn't what I expected, going into the novel, but then again, nothing in this novel was what I expected. He's... dark, like all the characters in the novel, yet somehow he came out to be one of my favorites. I'm fascinated by his relationship with Jude. (not that they have a relationship, just the way they interact with each other). I don't want to give anything away, I'll just say I had a lot of fun reading their interactions at certain points in the story. Cardan is a mystery, and it was certainly hard to figure him out. You think you got him down in a box, and then he'll do something that completely blows those walls open. 
All and all, I would give The Cruel Prince 8/10 stars. It was a fantastic read, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bit of fantasy, faeries, court intrigue or just something new, different from the usual type of story. It's a fun book, or, in the words of Leigh Bardugo it's "lush, dangerous, a dark jewel of a book." Couldn't agree more. If you like happy, light books, this isn't for you, but if you enjoy a bit of betrayal and a story that'll keep your mind on its toes, this is the one for you. 

Anyway, here's the synopsis: 

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.


Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.


SPOILERS BELOW FOR THE CRUEL PRINCE, DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE NOVEL YET


Let's just start this part off with some self-satisfaction. I KNEW I COULDN'T TRUST LOCKE. Neve trust the friendly guy in this kind of story. It's the cruel ones that show exactly who they are, like my lovely bae, Cardan. Locke was just hiding behind a friendly mask. He's actually a dick and I KNEW IT. Sorry, just proud of myself for figuring that out. And I also had a good guess that Locke was Taryn's suitor. 
"I have lied. I have betrayed. I have triumphed." 
​Let's just ask what the hell kind of sister is Taryn? Sure she "warned" Jude, but seriously? She's.. Ugh. I really hate disloyalty and that is the prime example of it. 
Now, thinking of Cardan. At first I thought he was a love interest. But then I Was like oh shit nope. He's VERY cruel. No chance of a romance there. And then it turned around when she found that paper with her name all over it. Jude thought that was a sign of hate but like... Nope people don't do that when they hate you. I loved the interaction with Cardan and Jude, and that's the thing I'm really looking forward to seeing more of in the next book. 
Cardan... Ah just wow. All the interactions in the 2nd part of the book just had my mind grinning. I can't describe it, I just loved it. After the party when he's completely under her control and they decide to "work together." Wow. Fantastic. 
Okay, so the last bit of the book moved a little fast. At first it seems like a normal, perhaps slow paced story to start off with. Little odd mix of modern day and faerie, and then the next part of the novel went wholly fantasy on us and moved so quickly! Jeez. like the negotiations just breezed through. Then the end, wow. The throne room scene? I was on the edge of my seat. (I actually was, I like to sit on the edge of my seat to keep good posture.) The betrayal of Cardan (somehow that betrayal was okay, haha.) and then his words to her at the end of the book? AH. Get me the next book this instant. 
And then there's that whole thing with Dain. And all the siblings, really. Like, wow, I was not expecting them to all get wiped out! I was expecting that Dain issue to come into play in books to come, but it's great now that he's dead. Surprising, and missing out on some potential with continuing sibling rivalry, but it was REALLY surprising. Something that doesn't happen in too many books today. I have to respect that creative decision because it really started off the new, different part of the story. 

Anyway, thanks for reading. 
-Anj
0 Comments

17 Best Stories of 2017

12/25/2017

0 Comments

 
Wow, it's already almost 2018. How strange. 2017 was both the slowest and fastest year ever, and what an interesting year it was. Anyway, this post is going to describe 17 of the best "stories" I've read/seen this year. Why "stories" instead of books? I don't think I read enough books in 2017 to pick 17 out (of non-rereads) that I could feel good about naming as the BEST, even if they were the best out of what I read. So here's my list of great stories I read/watched this year. I recommend seeing/watching/reading all of them! These are my favorites from the year. 
Picture
One of the best, if not THE BEST, books I read this year has to have been Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare. And really, is that even a surprise? I mean, Clare has yet to disappoint, and is one of my all-time favorite authors. Really, her world, plot, character, and relationship building are perfection, I can't think of a single way for her to improve (other than for her to QUIT KILLING OFF CHARACTERS WHO I LOVE). Anyway, this book surprised me, while I did love the first book, Lady Midnight, and I had high expectations for this one, I wasn't over-the-top excited to read it, just regular excited. The characters in this series have to be the ones I feel the least attached to in the Shadowhunter Chronicles (though I do love them, I just have a special emotional connection to the other series' characters), and I was actually more looking forward to another book coming out on the same day as Lord of Shadows, so... Basically what I'm trying to get at is that Lord of Shadows was a FANTASTIC book. I started it and it was like my eyes were superglued to the pages-- I was not able to look away. The pacing was perfect, as was all the other aspects of the novel as mentioned above. 
If you're interested here's my glowing review, but just warning you it's the second book in the series The Dark Artifices-- the first book is called Lady Midnight. If you're interested in the Shadowhunter Chronicles (WHICH YOU SHOULD BE. IT'S THE BEST), I'd suggest you start with one of the other series-- The Infernal Devices or The Mortal Instruments. This series comes after those time-wise and it spoils them. 
Basically the Shadowhunter Chronicles takes place in modern day, or at least, two of the series (Mortal Instruments and Dark Artifices) do. There's a supernatural world inside our own, and the "police" or people in charge of keeping the order in the supernatural world are Shadowhunters. Half-angel half humans. Each of the series takes place in a different time, The Infernal Devices in the Victorian Era, Mortal Instruments in 2006 and Dark Artifices in 2012. They all follow a group of Shadowhunters and various other supernatural beings as they fight... different enemies. Wow, it's hard to write a synopsis for three series at once while not trying to spoil anything. If you enjoy ROMANCE, FANTASY, and ACTION I'd recommend these series. Trust me-- they're some of my all time favorites and I read a lot. Here's the synopsis for book 1 of the Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices and The Dark Artifices. Please, please, check these series out. I can't emphasize how good they are. 
10/10 stars. Trust me, I don't give this score out a lot, but this book DESERVES it. 
Picture
I'm going to be honest. I went into this movie with mediocre expectations seeing as all previous DC movies had been a bit of a disappointment (i.e. Suicide Squad, Batman V. Superman & Superman). Then I actually watched this movie, and I was totally blown away. For those of you living under a rock, Wonder Woman follows Diana Prince, an amazonian warrior, as she ventures out of the safety of her home island and into the world of man in order to try and save it. Yeah, that's the big picture idea, at least. If you like action, comic book movies, or just enjoy a good story, Wonder Woman is the movie for you. Don't believe me? This movie also got glowing reviews from basically everyone. It has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. 92%! That's really quite good. This has to be one of my favorite movies to come out of 2017, and I really hope you all see it. Another 10/10 stars. 
Picture
I know, I know, I'm a little late, but this year I got into Hamilton. My obsession began in late May and has only been growing since. I avoided this musical for so long because I told myself I wouldn't like it-- I don't like rap. Yeah, well, I don't like it. I LOVE it. I'm obsessed with it. Over the summer I think I listened to the entire album TWICE a day. That's how great my obsession is. I know every word by heart and know a ton of real random facts about the musical. Seriously, if you have yet to listen to the soundtrack and get into the musical, you're missing out. The music is insanely catchy, the plot intriguing, and the characters are ones that are easy to grow attached to. Here's a link to the entire soundtrack, if you're interested. Of course, I can't actually link you to the show because that would be illegal ;), but if you're interested in seeing the show-- either do some pretty deep digging into the internet (you'll find it, I promise), or pay your life's worth to go see it on Broadway. (Or you could also pay a cheaper amount to see it in Chicago or London, and also there's a touring cast!) It's kind of harder to get than the other things on this list, but it's so worth it if you can see it. 9/10 stars. (seriously anything above a 7 is impressive in my rating scale). 
Picture
Another book I wasn't expecting much out of. Book 5.5 out of the Throne of Glass series (one of my favorite book series),Tower of Dawn follows Chaol Westfall as he ventures into the South looking for a cure for his damaged spine. Seeing as I'm not Chaol's biggest fan, I got the book and would read it because of my devotion to the series and the author, but I wasn't expecting to fall in love with the story and be up until the early hours reading... And yet that's exactly what happened. I really shouldn't have doubted Maas. The Throne of Glass series is another book series I would seriously recommend. Maybe if the first book doesn't hook you, try the next (even though the first book is FANTASTIC). This series is one that just gets better and better by the book and as the world expands. Throne of Glass is the perfect series for anyone who likes any of the following: a badass female protagonist, an exciting novel, action, romance, YA, fantasy, Game of Thrones, etc. 
Here's the synopsis for Throne of Glass, if you are interested. If you haven't read it, I encourage that you try the series because really, it's a fantastic story with compelling characters, intricate world building and an intriguing plot. 
I'm giving Tower of Dawn 10/10 stars. It was that good. If you've read Throne of Glass through Empire of Storms and are hesitant to start Tower of Dawn-- trust me and try it! You won't regret it. Need more convincing? Here's another glowing review. 
Picture
It wasn't released in 2017, but I was introduced to it this year. Rent, an iconic musical following several broke artists as they struggle to make a living. Bad description, great musical. Also a great movie containing most of the original Broadway cast. Here's the IMDB description of the movie: This is the film version of the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical about Bohemians in the East Village of New York City struggling with life, love and AIDS, and the impacts they have on America. I don't really know how else to sell this musical other than saying it's a very moving story, and also has great actors with strong vocals. This is the show that began Idina Menzel's career, as well as one of the first musicals to introduce more edgy themes like AIDS, drag, gays etc. to the Broadway stage. 10/10 stars for both the musical and the movie. I can't link the movie here, but there is a live recording of a Broadway show, not with the original cast, but still talented. 
Picture
I think there's a theme with the stories on this list-- they're all things wasn't expecting to love. And yet here I am, loving all of theme. The Lunar Chronicles, I've been avoiding this series for a LONG LONG LONG time. I knew it was insanely popular and everyone who read it loved it, but... I just couldn't bring myself to read Cinder because Cinder is a cyborg. Then, ironically as I was reading the book, I was getting mad at everyone for disliking Cinder because she was a cyborg. Don't let the sci-fi element throw you off like it did me. The Lunar Chronicles are a sci-fi retelling of different fairytales. For example, Cinder is a loose retelling of Cinderella. But it's not like companion novels in the same world, no all these stories are connected, just introducing new characters in each book that help along the main plot. Seriously, it's a very fun series to read. Sci-fi, romance, action and adventure-- what's not to love? Still need more convincing? Here's my synopsis for book 1. 
Also here's the book synopsis: 

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
​

I'd give the series a 8.8/10 overall. (Yes, that is a VERY good score for me). It was a great read, that I reread as soon as I finished it! Please! Try this series out, you [probably] won't regret it. (Then again, I can't see inside you're head, so I can't make an official promise!) 
Picture
If you couldn't tell, I really love my comic book stories. And this isn't the last comic book movie on this list. I also love me some Chris Hemsworth so... Thor: Ragnarok had a VERY different tone from all the previous Marvel movies. It was light, not a serious story-telling. Poking fun at itself and everything around it, and I loved it. This movie is the perfect combination of action and comedy. It makes use of its talented-cast and was filmed mostly on improv. Interesting fact-- Matt Damon has a cameo in it. If you have yet to watch this movie, what are you waiting for?! It's a blast, I promise you. 8.5/10 stars. 
Picture
Another musical, yeah, I'm a bit of a musical addict. Here's another musical I was introduced to this year, thanks to my friend Rachael. I loved this musical so much that I saw it TWICE within the span of like three months. RIGHT NOW on Broadway the original cast leads are back, Stark Stands and Billy Porter, only through January 7, so yeah, I know it's a short time, but if you can make it to the show GO. Sands and Porter are by far the best performers I have yet to see. Their on-stage presence is so compelling-- I couldn't tear my eyes away from them. They have the best on-stage chemistry I've ever seen, and the voices of angels. Please, please, please, see them if you can. 
You may be wondering, what is Kinky Boots about? Well. Here's the official Broadway synopsis! Based on a true story and the indie film of the same name, Kinky Boots follows young Brit Charlie Price, who abandons his family’s shoe factory to live with his demanding girlfriend in London. After the unexpected death of his father, Charlie returns to the struggling factory and finds it’s up to him to figure out a way to keep the business alive. Enter Lola, a fabulous drag queen, who gives Charlie the idea to create ladies’ shoes for men. Soon, the factory is turning out “kinky boots” under the supervision of Charlie and Lola, but can this harebrained scheme actually work? And can these two extremely different men find a common ground and become real friends?
The show is great in every aspect, which, I suppose, is not surprising for a Broadway show. Kinky Boots is a fun kind of production that will have you in absolute stitches, while also have you tapping your foot along to its infectious tunes. 10/10 stars. Sands and Porter are ​everything. (Still, the show on its own is good, too. Seriously recommend seeing it, even if you can't get in before January 7)
Picture
Picture
Here's another story I went into thinking I'd feel meh about and ended up loving. Actually, here's a story-telling platform I wasn't expecting to get into, either. Webtoon. Online comics. I think the sale is called Manga? I'm not sure though, so don't quote me. You can quote me on saying this is absolutely one the best stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I'm completely obsessed with Tower of God by Siu. Sure, the start of the story is a little slow and the art isn't AMAZING to start out with either, but let me tell you both improve drastically. Soon enough you'll be sucked into the story and not able to quit clicking "next episode" (episodes are chapters). If you're like me, you'll be staying up till 1AM on every day-- even weekdays-- because the story is just that good. The further you get into the world, the harder it is to leave it. The world, character, plot and relationship building in this comic are far better than plenty of published books I've read. If you like stories and are hesitant about reading a comic kind of story, don't be! This is an experience I promise you won't regret. And it's free! You can either download the free app or read it online! 
Now that I'm done ranting about how GOOD Tower of God is, shall I explain what it's about?
Well... This is actually pretty difficult. Tower of God takes place inside a tower where, if you can get to the top, you'll be granted with any of your greatest desires. The only thing is? Barely anyone makes it to the top. There are floors that you have to pass, and on each floor you have to take a "test." It's  kind of like a game, except the games can turn out to be deadly. Tower of God starts off following an innocent character as he accidentally enters the tower while following a friend... and as he ventures up the tower... Well, I want to tell you what happens, but that'd spoil the fun! Just trust me on this and try out this webtoon. Seriously, you don't know what your'e missing out on. This story has a mysterious and compelling plot line with a very lovable ensemble of characters. You won't be able to stop reading. Trust me, I'd know. 10/10 stars. This has to be one of my favorite stories of all time at this point. (Oh, also I should mention it's kind of an action/adventure/fantasy with plenty of humor)
Picture
This was the book I was most looking forward to coming out this year. The final book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy by Sarah J. Maas-- A Court of Wings and Ruin. And while, I'll admit, I was a  little disappointed with the novel, it was still a FANTASTIC book. My biggest issue was that it didn't seem like a finale, it didn't tie up any loose ends, it actually made more things open than anything else. If you're interested in my thoughts on it here's my review. Still, it was a great novel. 9/10 stars. 
If any of you don't know what this series is about... Please, please, please read it! The second book in the series , A curt of Mist and Fury is my favorite book of all time. Seriously, it's the best book in the world. The first book starts off a bit slowly, but as it goes on you get into it. What is it about? The first book is an extremely loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Very loose. The "Beasts" in the story are Faeries. And not like ones with cute little wings, but really attractive, immortal beings with extraordinary powers. Here's the synopsis for the first book: 
​
Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
Picture
Another superhero movie, surprise surprise. Spiderman: Homecoming is the most recent reboot in the many different Spiderman variations. Finally, Spiderman is able to join his fellow Marvel Avengers, thanks to a new deal between Sony and Disney/Marvel. And they finally got a Spiderman movie to be just right. Toby Maguire was a good Peter Parker, not Spiderman, while Andrew Garfield was a great Spiderman, not Peter Parker. Tom Hollands plays both roles perfectly. He also pulls off being a cute, awkward teenager, unlike both Maguire and Garfield who clearly felt older than their parts. Spiderman: Homecoming is a fun, energetic, action-packed movie that will be sure to hold your attention for the entirety of its run time. 8/10 stars. 
Picture
Another Webtoon? Yep. I'm kind of obsessed with these. And they're free! So you can read them anytime on your phone for no cost at all. It's a really good deal. This is another fantasy webtoon. It takes place in a world where it's common to have some sort of superpower. So it's unordinary to have no powers like the protagonist, John... Yeah, it's really hard to explain more, but let me promise you-- it's good. Like Tower of God, it has excellent character, relationship and plot building. The plot is super intriguing, and the characters are very likable (well not all of them, but like, different people will like different characters. My favorite is Arlo.) If you like fantasy, action or young adult stories, try this one out! (Also the art is FLAWLESS) Oh yeah, here's the official synopsis:
The world is not perfect. Learning to deal with its flaws is just a normal part of life. But there comes a point where these imperfections spawn a crushing realization... that something needs to change...
Here's a link to the story. 10/10 stars. (Oh, also the comics aren't actually moving. That would be a show. This is just a trailer.) 
Picture
For anyone who's been following my blog for a while, this shouldn't be a surprise. To All The Boys I've Loved Before has to be my favorite contemporary romance series. It's so realistic, to the point where sometimes I have to avert my eyes for a minute from secondhand embarrassment. It's so easy to emphasize with the protagonist and fall in love with the adorably of the story. Honestly, if you enjoy cute romances THIS IS THE SERIES FOR YOU.
Anyway, Always and Forever Lara Jean was the perfect ending to this perfect series. Unlike so many final books, this novel kept the tone and feel of its predecessors. It was good. No, it was great. 10/10 stars. Interested? Check out my review. 
If you're interested in the series as a whole, here's the synopsis for book 1. 
​
What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them… all at once? 

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.
Picture
This was one of those movies that I was expecting to be a flop. And that I did not intend to watch. Story behind that: every Christmas my fam goes to see a movie. My cousin made me promise not to watch Star Wars: The Last Jedi without him, so we had to watch something else. (Yes, I have seen the Last Jedi by now.) I was expecting this to be pretty bad.. And yet I ended up really enjoying the experience. It wasn't the BEST plot, but it was a fun movie. Seriously, I don't remember the last time a movie had me in stitches this many times. 8/10 stars. 
Basically what Jumanji is about is four teens get sucked into a game to play as different characters. They've got to complete the game if they want to get out and survive. 
Picture
Another old thing that I just got around to seeing/reading this year. 27 Dresses, quite possibly my favorite rom com now. Yeah, I don't really like Katherine Heigl either, but it's a really good rom com. And I'm a sucker for a good romance story. 
This basically follows a girl who loves weddings. She loves them so much so that she's been in 27 weddings, and basically planned the entire thing for each of her friends. She's also been pining after her boss... Who starts to fall in love with her lying sister, and she may just have to plan their wedding. Throw in a James Marsden writer character and you get a great rom com. 8/10 stars.  

Picture

Another Webtoon. Seriously, this app/website is the best. Super Secret is a super adorable story about next door neighbors and best friends Emma and Ryan. It's a perfectly normal story minus the part where Ryan is a werewolf and his entire family are magical beings and Emma doesn't know. This has to be one of the cutest stories I had the pleasure of seeing/reading this year. Not only is the art absolutely adorable, but the story is as well. While being a cute story (sorry, cute and adorable are going to be used a lot here.), it also has an interesting plot. It's not just all about romance, in fact, there are a lot of subplots as well as some intrigue going on with the main romance interests. If you like cute stories, try this one out. 10/10 stars. Link here. 
(Yeah, the trailer sells the story WAY too short. There's so much more going on...) 
Picture
And last but not least we have the only TV show on this list, the worldwide phenomenon, Game of Thrones. To be completely honest season 7 was not my favorite season due to numerous plot holes and a sense of feeling rushed due to the short amount of episodes left (ONLY 6), but it was still a GREAT season. While I did have my issues with season 7, I still sat down at 9 every Sunday night and proceeded to have my eyes glued to the screen for the next hour. Visually Game of Thrones is stunning, it has a marvelous cast and about $10 million to spend on each episode, how could it not be? Also the plot is intriguing, which is why so many people love the show. This show might have the most intricate plot on TV, one word said in the first season can come into play in later seasons. It's all very well thought out (well, this last season was a little scattered but...) I highly recommend this show to anyone who hasn't actually seen it (are there people who haven't seen Game of Thrones? At this point it seems like everyone has.) Game of Thrones is not one of those shows that you just play in the background while doing something else, no this show demands attention and it's worth every second of it. It's not too late to jump on the Game of Thrones bandwagon! You have until 2019 when the new and last season comes out! If you like fantasy, action, and intrigue this is the show for you. I promise, once you get into the show, you'll be on the edge of your seat until the very end. 
There's a reason Game of Thrones is (probably, I don't know the actual statistic, it's at least one of) the most popular television shows. 9.5/10 stars for the overall series and 8/10 stars for the last season. 
Anyway, thanks for reading this extremely long post! Hope y'all had a great 2017 and happy new year! 
​-Anj
0 Comments

Basically A Filler Post With A Few Random Recommendations

11/24/2017

0 Comments

 
Alright everyone, this is just a post to explain why I have not been posting this November. I'll start it off by saying I'm sorry! This month has been super busy for me. Not only have I signed up for NaBoWriMo, but I also have had a crap ton of homework and stress piling on because I had exam week as well. And the play... Well, that's a whole ton of excuses as to why I haven't been posting, and while yeah, they're legit, I still feel like they're just excuses. 
In all honesty I haven't actually read that much this month, either. BECAUSE of all that stuff listed above going on in my life, I haven't actually had the time. And I know, I know, that goes against my saying that you have to make time for reading but... I've barely had time for writing, so the time I usually put aside for reading has been dedicated to writing my novel for the month. Don't worry! I have some reviews that I've been trying to scrap together in the slight free time that I actually have so... They should be coming out moderately soon. Ish. Maybe. We'll see. Maybe I'll feel inspired and finish one tonight! Doubtful, but we'll see. :) 
Anyway, to hold y'all over (I know you just can't wait for me to post another review, haha), I'll tell you about a little thing that I've been reading in my boredom. 
Let's make it a story, shall we?
One night, around midnight, I was feeling kind of bored. I knew I should probably go to sleep, but I just wasn't in the mood for sleep. Then my mind recalled an ad I saw on YouTube a couple hours earlier... It was an ad for some sort of anime style thing. I had to download an app for it, too. I'd dismissed the ad at the time, but seeing as it was midnight and I was super bored, I just decided I'd download the app and watch a few of the episodes of the show that the ad had been for. 
Turns out, they weren't actually episodes, but anime-esk comics. The story was called the Siren's Lament, and it turned out, it was really good. In fact, I was probably up until two reading it. I didn't expect to get so into the story, but I did. the artwork was beautiful and the plot and characterization? Amazing. It is actually a very well thought out story. Anyway, even though comics and anime-esk things aren't exactly my thing, I found myself really getting into the story. 
Then I finished all the uploaded chapters of the Siren's Lament. And I didn't exactly feel like reading anything else, (because, like I said earlier, comics and anime? Not my thing.) The only bad thing about the stories? Most of them aren't done. Meaning you have to wait every week for a new "episode." 
Anyway, I didn't intend to read more. It was just going to be the Siren's Lament, and I'd keep reading the updates and that would be it. 
And then I believe I was bored another day, after just reading the update for the Siren's Lament and craving more, I decided to start another story. It was called Super Secret. It was just supposed to be a time -filler, not an addiction. And now here I am. Obsessed with that story as well. 
But the was going to be it. I was done reading new Webtoons. 
Haha, just kidding. 
Later, again, I was bored (wow, I've been bored so often I should've written reviews...) so I started I Love Yoo. Another great story. 
Then, last Friday night, shocker, I was bored again and really in the mood to read a story and didn't have any books on hand so I turned to my phone. And I started a story called unOrdinary. And then I was up till two again, even though I had no intentions previously of staying up late. I just wanted to read a couple chapters. 
And then this weekend I've been reading more, just because I've been extremely bored. Basically what I'm trying to say is I really recommend these stories. They're free (YAY), and even if comics and anime aren't you're thing (like me), I'm pretty sure most of you will enjoy them. The story telling in all of the Webtoons that I've read is spot on. The characterization, relationship building, and plot ate all incredibly done, I find myself very attached to the characters and their relationships and riveted to the stories' plots. Honestly, this is a little mean, but a lot of these comics are better written than a lot of books I've read. If you're looking for a free story that'll be sure to have you hooked and make you fall in love... I recommend these Webtoons! And if you've never used Webtoons, pick one of these to start! It'll be the beginning of an addiction, trust me, I'd know. 

Super Secret by Eon 
Super Secret is about next door neighbors, Ryan and Emma. They've been best friends since forever, and Ryan basically parents Emma. Making her get out of bed on time and making sure everything in her life is in order. Alright that's pretty normal... Right? Except Ryan has a SUPER big SECRET. He's a werewolf, and everyone in his family is some sort of magical being. But it has to be kept a secret from Emma because, well, it's just a rule. Anyway, this story is SUPER cute. The drawing style is adorable, and not only is the story a cute romance, but it is also hilarious. It had me gripping my sides and laughing more often than I'd like to admit. But there are also very realistic parts of the plot that had me almost to tears because... It was just so... It just made me feel so empathetic for the characters. Ryan is a sweetheart, and Emma is just adorable, basically a sum up of the entire story. Well, actually, it's a lot more complex. Basically I recommend this one if you're interested in 
an intriguing plot yet cute story 
adorable characters 
and an adorable romance 

Basically the only way to describe this story is CUTE and ADORABLE. 

I Love Yoo by Quimche
I Love Yoo follows Shinae Yoo, a highly relatable character who is more interested in food than parties. Basically her friends drag her along to a party, and at the party she meets two boys, one mischievous and fun and the other is a bit of a snob and rude. These two boys are somehow connected... And they seem to keep coming into Shinae's life. It's still a little early on in the story, so I can't give much detail in how the romance is going, but I can see connections stating to form! 
This story is more HUMOROUS than romantic... for now. Basically it will have you laughing A LOT as well as making you become very attached to the characters and story. 

If you're looking for a 
funny contemporary story 
with great, well-rounded characters 
emphasis on funny

This one is the Webtoon for you. 

unOrdinary by Uru-chan
This Webtoon is just about as complex as it gets. It follows John, who lives in a world where it's ordinary to have powers. And he's unordinary because he apparently doesn't have any powers. He can never seem to keep out of trouble for long, always sticking his nose where it doesn't belong and standing up for the little guy... Even when he is the littlest guy, being unable to defend himself. John befriends Seraphina, quite possibly the most powerful girl in the school. But not everything is as it seems when it comes to John, and more than a couple of John's more powerful classmates are curious about what is going on. 
Yeah, that was a really bad synopsis and that's the reason I didn't bother to read this story for so long... Yet when I read it I was almost immediately hooked. Seriously, this has to be one of my favorites... Actually basically all of these are my favorites, but... This story will stick with you. You won't be able to get it out of your head. Waiting for the updates is excruciating. The plot is complex, the characters are well-rounded and complex and... Just everything is amazing! Please, everyone read this webtoon because... I can't even put my feelings into words. I just love everything about this story and really don't want y'all to be missing out. 

Read this webtoon if 
you enjoy fantasy (there are superpowers) 
enjoy a good laugh (there's a lot of humor) 
love a complex plot 
love having a big roster of characters, all of whom are very easy to fall in love with 
(YES ARLO IS MY FAVE, BITE ME) 

Siren's Lament by Instantmiso
This was my first Webtoon, and I still love it dearly. Siren's Lament follows Lyra, a girl who's in love with her best friend... Except he's dating someone else. Broken hearted, she feels the sea calling to her... And basically after some complicated stuff goes on she gets stuck in a shared curse with a boy... Let's call him Ian. Both Ian and Lyra are sirens, and they need to get rid of the curse, before it takes them over completely. Throw in best friend Shon, who may or may not be jealous of the new guy spending so much time around Lyra, and you've got a whole lot of drama and humor. 

Read this Webtoon if you enjoy 
Romance. A lot of romance. 
Humor
a complex plot.. (Sorry, I'm going to say complex plot for basically all of them) 


My Dear Cold-Blooded King by Limelight
I actually was just reading this one this morning. This was one of those webtoons, actually all of these were webtoons that I avoided and then gave in to reading them when I was bored. This story is set in ancient China (I think it's China... Might be somewhere else, I don't know). A cruel king reigns, and he has a frightening reputation of being ruthless. One day Kihara makes the mistake of being at the (Right?) wrong place at the wrong (right?) time. She is soon caught up with the whirlwind of court intrigue... The King seems to have shown interest in her, but that interest carries a lot of weight. And also, as the story goes on you have to unravel he mystery of... Who is the King? 
Basically, bad synopsis by yours truly, but I just want to say this story is great. Sorry, I'm saying that about all these Webtoons but it's true! They're all fantastic. That's why I'm recommending them. 

This story is for you if: 
You enjoy humor, especially coming from teasing, hot boys 
an intriguing, suspenseful plot 
a strong, curious protagonist 

And more... Basically just read all these stories. Please?

Let's Play by Mongie
This is the story I can say the lease about because it only has five chapters, so I'm not addicted... yet. I'm interested, though. Let's Play follows Sam, an aspiring game developer. The only issue is some hot shot YouTube reviewer gave her a bad review, ruining her career before it even began. Ah, and who's her new neighbor? That very YouTuber. 

Read this story if: 
You love to laugh 
You enjoy a love-hate relationship (I'm assuming the love will come later) 
You like adorable dogs

Haha, basically try and read all these stories because they're great, k? 
Thanks for reading, 
​Anj

Picture
Picture
Super Secret
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
My Dear, Cold-Blooded King
0 Comments

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

10/13/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Imagine this. A rich world of magic, action, fantasy and adventure, with a witty protagonist and an intruiging plot. A story following an extraordinarily powered group attempting to defeat a seemingly undefeatable enemy. Want a story chalk full of cleverly done plot twists-- one that will forever be one of the most spectacular series you will ever read? Yeah, this is the series for you... Kind of. Tower of Dawn is a spin-off// companion novel to the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas aka the author of my favorite book of all time as well of two of my favorite series, one of them being this one.
Throne of Glass follows cocky assassin Celaena Sardothien as she compeats for her freedom... well, that's the first book. I guarantee the next books in the series get better and better. I promise, if you like fantasy novels, this is the series for you. There's no going back after reading a Maas book, so I'm warning you now, it's going to be hard to find other fantasy novels that compare. If you're interested, I highly encourage you to go check that book out-- it's a great series. That's all I really feel the need to say about it (it's your loss if you don't read it), but if you haven't read this series up to Queen of Shadows (Book 4) or even Empire of Stoms (5), I don't reccomend reading further. This review will contain spoilers for those books, so read them first!
Anyway, on to talking about Tower of Dawn. First off, just a quick comment on the over. It's a pretty good cover, it just doesn't look like it belongs in the Throne of Glass series. It looks more like a... Game of Thrones book. I like it, I just don't like how it doesn't fit in. In with the rest of my books. On to the Tower of Dawn book, I'll start this review (not actually starting it anymore, is it?) by saying how I felt going into this book. Eh. Chaol? No too interested in him, especially after reading Queen of Shadows. Then I really wasn't into him. He was pretty much a dick for the entirety of that book.
Coming out of this book? I felt the complete opposite. I felt reluctant to end the story, and beyond excited to read the last Throne of Glass book (which is shocking, seeing how much I was already eagerly anticipating that release.) 
Tower of Dawn follows Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq as they venture south to Antica in search of someone with the ability to heal Chaol's fractured spine. Antica holds the world's best healers, and among them is Yrene Towers, a young woman who has an intense dislike for men of Erilea. Especially those associated with the monarchy. She also has a special connection to a certain blonde, hot headed assassin we all know and love... Basically if you haven't read The Assassin's Blade before this, I recommend you do, because it gives a little back story between Celeana and Yrene. 
This book is set in a fascinating and rich world, and Maas' world-building are spot on. In every book she improves her technique, and this book may be the best book in terms of world-building yet. As well as character building, there was a whole cast of new characters introduced in this book, and not one of them felt flat. No, instead all of them are well-founded, fascinating characters with different motives driving each of them. I was intrigued to learn more about each character, and still am. I hope to be seeing a lot more of these characters in the future, as well as their mythology and their word in general. 
This book all around surprised me, the writing, world-building, character-building, and all the technical aspects were phenomenal, as was the plot-- which was intriguing. All in all this book was the epitome of good books, it has everything you could ever want... Except maybe Aelin and Rhysand as principal characters, but hey, I can't be that picky, can I? 
Not only was this book a great story, it was also not your typical YA story cutout (then again, are Maas' books ever?), its plot went in a direction that I wasn't expecting going into it, and that somehow made the book even better. The relationships in the book were the thing that surprised me the most, I just loved the way they were built, and just the different way the characters saw each other// the different relationships all the characters had. 
That had to have been my favorite part about reading this book-- it went in a direction I wasn't expecting at the beginning, and not a complete 360 hey I hate this because I never saw it coming direction change. I saw it changing and was kind of like no, is this really happening? It was a change you, as the reader, can really appreciate, because of how it helps further the characters and their journeys. Though, I did also love the world-building. I think I'm now officially in love with Antica. Just everything about it, including the complicated royal family that we didn't see nearly enough of (and trust me, you see a lot of them). Honestly I can see an entire series just set in this world as well. 
I'm giving Tower of Dawn 9/10 stars. Yeah, it was that good. I absolutely loved it. If you love the Throne of Glass Series and have hesitations about reading this book? Chuck those hesitations out the window because trust me when I say this book will blow you away. (Blow us all away *whistling*) This is not a book you want to miss, and not just because you might get confused when the last book comes out, but also because of just how amazing this story is on its own. Seriously, you'll regret not reading this one. Don't miss out on this fantastic journey.

Synopsis: 

In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.


SPOILERS  

OKAY HOW ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT WERE YOU THE ENTIRE BOOK, WAITING FOR CHAOL TO BE LIKE "YO GUESS WHAT? YOUR SAVIOR? THAT'S AELIN, THE QUEEN I WORK WITH AND AM TRYING TO GET HELP FOR." Like seriously that was me for this whole book. Like WHEN WILL SHE FIND OUT???!!  She finally did, but it wasn't shown in the pages which was SO ANNOYING BECAUSE I WAITED THE WHOLE BOOK FOR THIS!!
(Also, side note: how heart breaking is it gonna be when Yrene thinks she's meeting her savior, but her savior has no idea who she is, because it's actually Lysandra?) (Also, is Maas incapable of writing wedding scenes??? Huhhhhh?1) 
The unpredictable thing I Was talking about above was the whole Nesryn and Chaol thing not working out. I went into the book assuming they were an established couple and came out pleasantly surprised. That's what's so fantastic about Maas-- she doesn't follow the whole established couple thing. It can change at any moment, and when I started to notice a thing between Chaol and Yrene, I couldn't believe it. But then it happened, and I was happy about it. Especially because you know, Sartaq and Nesryn. Can I get a hell yes? 
That entire time they were out with Sartaq's bird people I was getting a whole Illyrian vibe, which I appreciated. I also loved the whole relationship development between Sartaq and Nesryn, because when you look at Nesryn and Chaol's relationship it was really doomed to die-- he never went to see her family, and it was clear from the start of the book they didn't have that BAM love feel between each other. 
Back to being out with the bird people, oh my god, that scene where Sartaq didn't fit through the chasm? I almost died when I thought Sartaq was actually gonna die for good. Like nooooo, luckily we saved my baby. But yay for that cuteness between Nesryn and Sartaq. Going into this book I didn't think I'd get attached to the relationships, but look at me. I did. 
And then that scene where there was a giant wolf I was SO excited because IT'S ONE OF THE CADRE. Nope it was a shoe shifter... bummer, but still, he was a cool guy who's Lysandra's uncle (that was pretty predictable), so I guess it was okay. 
Also how frustrating is it that we spent the whole book healing Chaol's back only to have it permanently broken again? That irked me, like ugh, all that hard work down the drain. 
And that Aelin part at the end? SOMEONE GET ME INTO 2018 RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I NEED THIS NEXT BOOK!!
Thanks for reading, 
​Anj
1 Comment

Textrovert by Lindsey Summers

9/23/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Cute, light and happy, everything you want in a contemporary novel. How do introverts fall in love? Apparently texting. Maybe I should try it out sometime, haha. 
Several years ago when I was super into Wattpad, I started reading this story called the Cell Phone Swap. I really enjoyed it, so when I saw this book, the published version, I just knew I had to get it. And I do not regret that choice in the slightest. 
Extrovert follows Keeley, an introverted girl who's always lived in the shadow of her brother Zach, who's captain of the football team and one of the most popular boys in school. She's never been the star of her family or her school, that was always Zach's place. Then, one day Keeley accidentally swaps phones with someone who happens to be an extremely attractive guy. 
While Textrovert is every cliche put to the max, it's still highly enjoyable. This book doesn't use the cliches in that annoying I've-read-this-one-million-times before way. No, it actually uses the cliches in the way that you can enjoy the classic adorable tropes. Sure, everything was extremely predictable, but aren't all contemporary novels? The fun of contemporary novel isn't the mystery, it's the journey the story takes you on. :Like how much you smile and laugh while reading this book. 
I frequently found myself grinning from ear-to-ear whilst reading this book, as well as squealing from the adorability of it. 
An extra just cute factor of the book is that it's formatted so that the texts sent between Keeley and Talon are depicted as actual texts, which I just absolutely loved. 
Keeley is a relatable protagonist who's easy to sympathize with. I soon found myself falling in love with her, the way she thought and her relationship with not only Talon, but also her brother. Even though Zach is the "star" he still needs his sister, and doesn't want to be separated from her. That pulled on my heart and I just... I love Zach. I love all the characters in this book-- there isn't a single one that I found really annoying, no I liked the way they all fit together. But back to Keeley. She's the perfect protagonist for the story, I loved following her thoughts throughout. She's funny, and over text she comes off as sarcastic and a little confidant, while in real life she's shy and frequently second guesses herself. Tell me that isn't relatable. I can really relate with having a relationship (I'm not talking about boyfriend girlfriend, just a relationship as in a connection between two people) over text/the internet with someone being perfectly okay-- where you can basically tell each other anything, but when we come face to face? It's kind of awkward at first. Neither of us are really sure of what to say to each other, or how to act. So yeah, I really relate to Keeley in this story, and not only because of that. She's just a very likable protagonist. 
Talon is Keeley's love interest. The guy she accidentally swaps phones with. He's the perfect boy. He has his flaws, but that makes him so much more perfect and realistic in my eyes. He's cocky, sure, but he has a heart of gold underneath and really, that's all that matters. I don't really want to give too much away about him. I'll let you fall in love with him on your own. 
I've already mentioned my love of Zach, he's so sweet and my heart frequently twisted for him in this story... I'm actually maybe crossing my fingers for a spin-off/ companion novel following Zach. Yeah, that's how much I love this character. 
All in all I would give Extrovert 8/10 stars. It was everything I could want in a contemporary novel, sweet romance with heartstoppingly cute moments that had me squealing loud enough to scare my cats, funny moments and lines that had me laughing hard enough to scare my cats, and characters that are so easy to grow attached to that my heart could barely handle it. (Yeah, could't relate that to my cats, sorry.) I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy some good, cute, light romances as well as some well-used cliches. 

Synopsis: 
​
Summer is nearly over and Keeley is about to start her senior year when disaster strikes: she picks up the wrong cell phone by mistake. 😞 Just her luck that it belongs to Talon, a totally arrogant jock 🏈 who’s just left for football camp—with herphone. Keeley doesn’t know him, but they’ll need to rely on each other to forward their messages for an entire week.

Talon is so full of himself, but Keeley quickly discovers he’s funny, too—at least his texts are. 😅 And he listens to Keeley—which is more than anyone else does. Texting Talon, she can be more than just the quiet twin sister of a popular boy. Texting Talon, she can be the outgoing person she’s always wanted to be. Soon the two are falling for each other, hard.

But when true identities are revealed and secrets are exposed, will Keeley’s feelings stay the same?

Anyway, thanks for reading <3
Anj
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>
    Picture

    Anji Cooper

    Sushi Obsessed. Internet Geek. Aspiring Author. Avid Reader. Occasional Blogger. 

    Currently Reading...
    Best Contemporary Novels 
    Best Fantasy Novels
    Best Action Novels
    Best Dystopian Novels
    Favorite Novels  (Website)
    Favorite Novels (Goodreads)

    2021 Reading Challenge

    2021 Reading Challenge
    Anji has read 26 books toward her goal of 50 books.
    hide
    26 of 50 (52%)
    view books

      Subscribe for Blog Updates

    Subscribe

    Categories

    All
    Action Books
    Alexandra Bracken
    Book Haul
    Books
    Cassandra Clare Books
    Divergent Trilogy
    Extras
    Favorite Books/Highest Recommendations
    Holly Black Books
    Huntley Fitzpatrick Books
    Jennifer Armentrout Books
    Jenny Han Books
    John Green Books
    Lauren Oliver Books
    Lorien Legacies
    Marie Lu Books
    Marie Lu Books
    Miranda Kenneally Books
    Movies
    Rachel Hawkins Books
    Rainbow Rowell Books
    Remnant Chronicles
    Review
    Richelle Mead Books
    Rick Riordan Books
    Romance Books
    Sarah J Maas
    Starbound
    Stephanie Perkins Books
    Trailer
    TV Shows
    Youtube

    Archives

    May 2021
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.