Winter By Marissa Meyer (Spoiler Free Review)

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Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fairytale Retelling

Pages: 827

Point of View: Third Person (Winter, Jacin, Cinder, Kai, Cress, Thorn, Scarlet, Wolf, Lavana, Iko, and one more)

Released: November 10th 2015

Series: Cinder 4

Predictability: 5 out of 5 (Where 1 is totally unpredictable and 5 is I knew what was going to happen way ahead of time.)

Source: Library

My Rating: 7/10 Stars

My Summary:

Winter is the beautiful princess of Luna. Since she refuses to use her Lunar powers of deception, she’s slowly losing her mind.

Cinder and her friends are on their way to Luna to stop the evil Queen Levana once and for all.

Spoiler free review! (Even if you haven’t read Cinder) You will be warned before the tiniest of spoilers! 

Click here to find out who dies in Winter! (This obviously has spoilers!)

My Review:

I am the oddball. Again. Everyone loved this book. Except me. I LOVED this series! It’s one of my favorites! I had such high expectations for this book! I was disappointed.

The Good:

It was nice to finally see Luna. The moon and the domed cites were cool! And the crazy Lunar fashions which incorporated their Illusion abilities.

I wasn’t sure if I’d like Winter based on her part in Cress. I was worried about the crazy thing, but I found myself wanting to get back to her parts! I especially enjoyed her banter with Jacin!

Iko got to narrate!!! It was great!! I need more! How about a whole Iko book, okay?

The Bad:

I know Snow White is the Fairest of them all, but it got annoying how often we were told. Winter is so so pretty. Her scars only make her prettier.

I read this 800 page book quickly, but it did feel a touch long. Some sections could’ve been tightened up a bit. (Like Kai’s parts. They were just boring.)

This series has been predictable, but it’s just been the major plot points. In this one almost everything was predictable! It felt like the author was just going through the motions to me.

The writing just wasn’t as good and the plot got repetitive.

If you want to go into this book blind, skip to the conclusion! (Small Spoilers!)

Which couple is going to be separated next, so they can be reunited and have a moment?

There were quite a few romantic moments. Maybe it’s because I just read a Rowell book, but none of them were that amazing. Big romantic scene and I’m all ‘meh, okay.’

Some previously smart characters acted idiotically! Example:

Your friend is fighting someone with mind control powers, you’re easily controlled, so what do you do? Go to ‘help’ of course! *facepalm*

It wasn’t only stupid good guys:

Levana left her top secret research center unlocked and virtually unguarded. Seriously?!

I am mostly mad about what she did to one of the characters! I was so angry with the book I set it aside for the day. I couldn’t believe she would do that! I could rant all day about how that ruined this book, but I won’t. (Click here to find out what I mean. Spoilers!)

Conclusion:
I’m glad I read Winter and it was a quick enough read, but it wasn’t great or amazing like I hoped. Iko’s first POV chapter was terrific! And there were a few good moments, (especially between Winter and Jacin) But it wasn’t half as good as the other books! They were just so fantastic! With some really great lines! This one? Not so much. It just fell flat for me.

What books are you wishing for for Christmas?

I asked for Winter, Magnus Chase, and the Copper Gauntlet. I obviously couldn’t wait to read Winter. (Oops!)

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Golden Son By Pierce Brown (Spoiler free review!)

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author, book, book reviews, books, characters, dystopian, fiction, golden son, golden son by pierce brown, literature, novel, Pierce Brown, plot, read, reader, Red Rising, review, sci-fi, science fiction, scifi, stories, story, who dies in golden son, write, writer, writing, YA, young adult

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Spaceships

Pages: 464

Point of View: First (Darrow)

Released: January 6, 2015

Series: Red Rising Trilogy #2

Predictability: 1 out of 5 (Where 1 is George RR Martin (If the characters make a plan or think about the future I know it isn’t going to go that way.) And 5 is Cinder (where I guessed what was going to happen long before it did, but it was still a great book.)

Source: Netgalley

Warning: Violence

My Rating: 8/10 Stars

Usually it’s hard for me to review a sequel, because I don’t want to spoil the first book for those who haven’t read it, but with Golden Son that wasn’t a problem at all. So even if you haven’t read Red Rising you don’t have to worry about spoilers here. (click to read my review of Red Rising)

My Summary: (Stuff about the world learned in Red Rising)

In a world where one’s color determines one’s status, Darrow was born the lowest, a Red. The Reds were lied to, told they were living a horrible life for the betterment of mankind, working to terraform Mars for their descendants, but really Mars has been colonized for years.

Darrow was approached by the Sons of Ares, a group of Reds who want to change the system. They changed Darrow from a Red into a Gold, the highest ruling class, and snuck him into their elite institute.

Golden Sun Summary:

Darrow’s been out of the Institute for two years now. A year ago he joined the academy where they train for the military.

The book opens on his final exam for the academy. He’s playing a similar game as before, only this time with warships in space.

My Review:

With such a large cast it’s hard to remember them all, but the author did a good job of reminding me.

Like the first, this book has copious slang, (Yikes he’s got me talking like him now.) but it isn’t as annoying as it was in Red Rising. (Or I’ve finally gotten it all figured out.)

And Darrow is still holding things back. We’re in his head, but we never know all he does. I suppose that’s one way to write an intelligent character, but it’s so annoying.

The Good:

Golden Son starts with a bang. One thing I wanted from the first book was a starship battle and the space battles are some of the best I’ve read! I can tell that the author put a lot of thought into the types of ships and tactics that would be used in space. (I so want a companion book about all the ships, with pictures!)

More excellent world building! I liked the techy Blues and the way they communicate with the ship and each other. As well as the culture and history of the huge obsidian warriors.

I enjoyed the new characters as well as the old. It’s so hard not to have favorites and this is the kind of book I hate to get attached to anyone, but I can’t help it!

There’s also more levity. It’s by no means a comedy, but I did laugh out loud on the plane. (I have no clue if I got weird looks because that would require stopping)

And like the first book absolutely nothing is predictable. Unlike Game of Thrones good thing do happen, but there is no knowing when.

I had a book hangover for a week when I finished! Just wow. I need more!! I almost wish I’d waited to read the last two together or stopped before the cliffhanger ending. Talk about to be continued! Why does he do this to us?!

The Bad:

This is at times a dark an emotional book, which isn’t usually my cup of tea. Darrow is more mature in the sequel, but he’s still the same guy. (Moody and way too moral for what he’s trying to do) But the plot and story telling is so strong that it doesn’t matter that I don’t really care for the main character!

I highly recommend this series! Even though I realize it isn’t for everyone.

Who dies in Golden Son? Click here. Obviously SPOILERS! I so wish I knew this ahead of time so I wouldn’t have been so tense while reading.

Can top notch world building and plot make up for a lackluster or unlikable main character? Usually my enjoyment of a book rests largely on the protagonist, but if the world and plot totally rock I can still love the book. If I don’t like the main there does need to be some good minor characters though.

Cipher By Aileen Erin

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Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Hackers, Gamers & Modified DNA

Pages: 210

Series: Shadow Ravens 1

Point of View: First (Cipher & Knight)

Released: October 31, 2014

Predictability: 5 out of 5 (Where 1 is George RR Martin (If the characters make a plan or think about the future I know it isn’t going to go that way.) And 5 is Cinder (where I guessed what was going to happen long before it did, but it was still a great book.)

Source: Netgalley

My Rating: 7/10 Stars

Age Rating: Swearing

My Summary: 

In a world where people have scientifically altered DNA the color or your Helix tattoo reveals what you can do. White Helix, also known as the Seligo are the elite. They don’t get sick and they don’t age. Black Helix are warriors with superior strength and stamina, greens have super smarts, blues are mysterious, but have some sort of mind control abilities. Then there’s the red helix, which are said to have unstable DNA. They have out of control powers and are to be captured or killed on sight.

Cipher is a renowned hacker and gamer, but she’s also a red helix with the ability to manipulate electricity. Wanting a normal life she hacks into the most guarded mainframe to learn about the red helix. In the process she loses control of her emotions and not only zaps her computer, but causes several transformers to explode. She knows she should run again, because they’ll be coming for her, but she’s finally made a friend here.

Knight is a double helix, black and green. He’s only working with the government to get information for the Shadow Ravens, the group working against the government to free the red helix and protect them. Everything he’s done he’s done to find a girl who befriended him as a child and stood up for him, to find her and return the favor.

My Review:

I read this book in a day and stayed up past one in the morning to do so. It’s short and quick paced, if a bit predictable.

The Good:

The Dual perspective worked and I actually liked both of the main characters. (A rarity.) Their voices were different enough that I didn’t get them confused (though I didn’t put the book down much) and they each had their own special skills. It’s great when both of the main characters kick butt!

The futuristic world was awesome! I loved the technology we got to see, but being told by people who live there it wasn’t explained much.

I’ve seen female friendships discussed on several blogs recently and I’m happy to say I’ve found another book with a good friendship! Cipher has a good close female friend in Mona. (Who happily doesn’t get tossed aside when a man comes into the picture.) Mona’s not a character I’d usually like, because she really cares about how she looks (the whole clothes and makeup thing) and she’s really into flirting with guys, but she stuck by Cipher and genuinely cared.

I really liked all of the minor characters, they weren’t in the book much, but I still found myself caring about them.

The romance is one of the best and worst parts of the book. The dynamic between Cipher and Knight was great, especially when they were joking with each other. I did feel the connection between them BUT

The Bad:

Though the romance wasn’t love at first sight, it seemed really intense too quickly, (Especially from Knight’s perspective.) I could’ve done with a bit less ‘now that we’re together she’s the only one for me’ bit and had it progress more slowly. I think if it were only told from Cipher’s point of view it would’ve been better in this instance.

I didn’t like the whole tied together to control her abilities thing. (Not a spoiler, told about in the second chapter) It wasn’t explained much and I didn’t really see the point, it would’ve been better if Knight was just made so he wouldn’t die being around her.

There was a little time jump right before the ‘last battle’ and I wanted a tiny bit more beforehand, because they said something would almost impossible and then poof it happened with no explanation. (Sorry trying not to spoil anything and probably no one else even noticed this.)

I wanted a little bit more at the end. I was left with lots of questions. How did the red helix’ start? Everyone else was modified later in life, so why are reds born this way? How did the world get to be how it is? How is the government set up?

---

 

Okay, that seemed like a lot of bad, I promise this is a good book! I’d recommend it, but you have to like romantic science fiction and not just plain sci-fi.

The Shadow Raven’s series is going to be written by three authors and there will be four books in total. They’re all set in the same world, but with different heroines. Each author will tell their own heroine’s story and then the last one will be by all three. Doesn’t that sound cool?!

How do you feel about two first person perspectives? I’m personally a big fan of dual first person, but it can be hard to pull off, because if the characters aren’t unique enough I won’t know who’s telling the story when I set the book down and pick it up again. There’s also the problem when the characters are together, picking the right one to tell the story at the right time, (So I’m not wishing I was in the other head) and not repeating thing.

The Unhappening Of Genesis Lee By Shallee McArthur

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author, book, book reviews, books, characters, fiction, Genesis Lee, memories, Mystery, novel, read, reader, review, romance, sci-fi, science fiction, Shallee McArthur, The Unhappening of Genesis Lee, writer, YA, young adult

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Mystery

Pages: 352

Point of View: First (Gena)

Released: November 18, 2014

Predictability: 2 out of 5 (Where 1 is George RR Martin (If the characters make a plan or think about the future I know it isn’t going to go that way.) And 5 is Cinder (where I guessed what was going to happen long before it did, but it was still a great book.)

Source: Edelweiss

My Rating: 7/10 Stars

Summary:

In a world where people wear their memories in beads, someone is stealing them.

(Yep, that’s it one sentence tells you all you need to know. Sound good?)

Set Up:

The Mementi (people with memories in beads called links) founded the city of Havendale so they would have a place to belong, since they are ostracized in the outside world. However, in Havendale the Populous (what the Mementi call normal people) are only able to have menial labor jobs and are looked down upon.

The company of Archon was founded to use the Mementi’s intellect and skills to make the world better for them through the creation of new technologies. Since every Mementi has stock in Archon, they all have plenty of money, where all of the Populous in the city are poor.

Okay, a little more summary:

Genesis Lee is a Mementi living in Havendale. She’s trying to discover who’s behind the Link thefts when she runs into Kalan, a populous boy who may be the only one who can help her.

My Review:

Some would consider this a dystopian, and though the city of Havendale has a dystopian feel to it the plot is really more mystery.

At first glance this book has a really strange cover, but after reading it, it totally makes sense, (Gena is in ballet and dreams of being an astronaut.) and one of the themes of this book is about her being who she really is instead of who her parents want her to be.

The Good:

The Mementi had a cool culture, they’re always polite (because no one wants someone to have a bad memory of them) and they wear lots of covering clothing since one touch with another Mementi can transfer memories. Thought really went into what it would be like for those who could never forget. I like the whole Mementi can absorb knowledge into their brains thing. (Reminded me of the Matrix.)

The history behind what created the Mementi made sense, so often in a book like this the author has a cool concept, but the explanation of how this world came to be is lacking.

The romance was sweet, no instant romance here, it was gradual and well done. I liked both of the main characters, especially Gena. She got so strong over the course of this novel. The minor characters were well done too, but this novel was mostly about Gena and Kalan.

This book was surprisingly deep at times when talking about what memories one would want to forget and keeping all of your memories to deal with them properly.

There were several twists and I didn’t guess any of them except the last one, so it was a good little mystery. Unhappening had a good ending too, (I’m not saying happily ever after or not, since most of you know I’m a fan of that and I wouldn’t want spoilers.) I mean that everything was wrapped up. I don’t know if this will be a series, but if it’s not I’m happy with that.

The Not As Good: (Since none of these things are really bad)

There are a couple of little editing mistakes, like when they were listing off names one was mentioned twice as though the first time hadn’t happened, and there’s a little annoying thing that happens to contradict what was already said in the end, but that could’ve just been the character’s doing. Neither of these things took away from the book though and this was an arc.

One of Gena’s friends has conveniently hacked almost every system in the city. I wish it had been Gena with this ability and a little more explanation was given, but the hacking wasn’t just used as an easy get out of jail free card.

In the middle of the book there are lots of Christian beliefs talked about, the love interest Kalan is Christian. Sometimes this can get a little preachy, but it was okay here, just another part to a character not the author trying to convince the readers of his/her beliefs.

I didn’t ‘feel’ her panic attacks, but it was a fine attempt. I was afraid she was going to go with the PTSD is cured instantly thing, but she didn’t, so kudos!

The Bad: Gena insulted fedoras. Fedoras are cool! (Now I sound like the 11th doctor, but still.)

Would I recommend this book? Yes! Would I read something else by this author? Yep.

Would you want to remember everything? I would! I have a good memory already (one of those I have to pretend not to remember all of the things I do, because otherwise people would think I’m weird-er.) but I’m always forgetting little things, like what I walked in the room for or what I wanted to get at the store, (or most importantly story ideas) I realize remembering everything means the bad things too, but the worst memories are imprinted into my brain anyway. And the best part would be never having to worry I’d forget a story someone told me. (Though it would make rereading books harder)