Monday, August 31, 2015

Review: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver {Delirium #2}

Pandemonium (Delirium, #2)Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
My Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads summary: I’m pushing aside 
the memory of my nightmare, 
pushing aside thoughts of Alex, 
pushing aside thoughts of Hana 
and my old school, 
push, 
push, 
push, 
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite

*THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR DELIRIUM*

My thoughts: WHY DID I WAIT A YEAR TO READ THIS!?!?!?!?
Lets all take a trip down memory lane, shall we. We are in August 2014. I had just finished reading Delirium and had checked out Pandemonium from the library. It's in my hands, but I never wanted to read it. Fast-forward to August 2015. I'm taking a stroll through the library and I see it just staring at me. I say "Ehhhh, I should probably read Pandemonium" and because I had nothing better to read, I checked it out. It was kind of a foolish mistake for me not to read it back then, but then again it wasn't because I think if I read it last year I'm not sure I would've fully appreciated it as I do now.

First, Lauren Oliver's writing is beautiful! For me it's the type of writing that I don't notice is beautiful because I'm too caught up in the story, but then all of a sudden something just clicks in my head and I realize what I just read.

You know, it feels like forever ago that I read Delirium and I honestly can't remember hardly anything about it. I do remember liking Alex, but right now I'm drawing a blank as to why I liked him. I'm kinda mad at myself for not remembering why I liked Alex. Thinking about it right now, I feel like he was just kinda there and that Lena just liked him because he was basically the first boy she's ever had a real encounterance with. I also don't remember Lena as a character that much. I know she wasn't as cool as she is in Pandemonium, though! She's different and she's changed into some strong, kick-butt teenage girl on a mission. I loved it!

There's something special about the way this story is written. I'll try to explain it to the best of my ability in hopes that you'll understand. There are alternating "Then" and "Now" chapters. Basically every chapter ended in a cliffhanger! One moment were in the "then" world and things are going crazy, but then the next chapter we would be a "now" chapter so your sucked into a different time. I loved it! I made me want to keep reading more and more! In the "then" chapters we get to see Lena right after the tragic events from Delirium. We see her start to change, grow, and have to get accustomed into a new life. In the "now" chapters we see her on a mission and she has to work with an enemy in order to survive.

We get to see more of the world in the Wilds and how big it actually is. We also learn some new things about this deliria free world and it made me think of a few ways on how this series will end.
I know dystopian novels are kinda weird and scary because of the world, but this one is probably takes the prize for scariest. A world free of love sounds pretty crazy to me. Parents don't even love their children?! I would be scared to live in a world like that!
I guess there are some things you never get used to. 

There's a few new characters and they made this book much more meaningful and interesting for me. One of the reasons I loved this book so much was because of Julian whatever-his-last-name-is. I just loved reading the chapters with him in them and how he and Lena talked and formed a relationship. I do admit, Julian was low key creeper status in some scenes.

Then there's the ending. Oh man, I still can't even with my feelings. There's some cliffhangers that will forever stay with me and this is one of them.
I'm anxious to read the final book in this trilogy, Requiem.

I hope you enjoyed my weird, incoherent ramblings and Happy Readings! I'm off to read Requiem!! 












Monday, August 24, 2015

Spoiler Free Review: Hollow City {Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children #2}

Hollow City (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, #2)Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads summary:September 3, 1940. Ten peculiar children flee an army of deadly monsters. And only one person can help them—but she’s trapped in the body of a bird. 

The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience


*THERE WILL BE SPOILERS OF THE FIRST BOOK*
If you wanna check out my thought on the first book, click the link below:
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

My thoughts: Woah. Woah. Woah. I was not expecting to love this book! If you read my thoughts on Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, you'll know I kinda didn't like it. I'm not sure if it was the book or if it was because I read it during finals week...let's go with finals week because it's a pretty interesting series.

Hollow City, starts right off where the last book ended. Jacob and the peculiar gang leave their loop to travel to London in order to find help for their headmistress, Miss Peregrine. Throughout this book, Jacob and the gang argue, go through many trials, nearly die, find new friends, and even have to leave some of their own behind. It's a slow paced read, but one that I hardly noticed or minded because so much interesting stuff was happening. I did not want to put this book down!

I can't get over how amazing and cool the photographs are embedded to create such a wonderful story!! We also get to know way more about the peculiar world and how big it actually is. It's just fantastic!

One of the things I didn't like in the first book is a bunch of new characters were thrown at us. I had a hard time remembering who was who and what was each person's peculiar ability. It frustrated me quite a bit. I liked how the beginning of the book had a "Peculiar Personae" that had all the character's from the first book. I really appreciated that because I referred to it a couple of times throughout the beginning of Hollow City and it helped me memorize who was who.
There's quite a few new character's introduced into this book, but it wasn't frustrating. Instead, it felt more relaxed. Some of the few characters that we were introduced to are Joel-and-Peter. They are my favorite and I love when they talk {you'll see}!

I don't know when it happened, but my love for these characters slowly crept upon me. I was shocked at how much I cared for them. There's something I like about each character, even Enoch. But, I really like Milliard and Hugh. And can I just say Hugh and Fiona's love story...died.

Some of these characters just make me laugh. I don't even know if it's funny, but sometimes I just kinda laugh at things they say.
The medic fainted.
“Hm,” said Hugh, nudging the fallen man with his foot. “You’d think these chaps would be made of tougher stuff.”
“That could not have been less helpful to our present situation were it a story about cats on the moon.”
Now, Jacob and Emma. I know I said that their relationship was really weird and I didn't care for it, but I was wrong. I don't know when it happened, but before I knew it I just shipped them together and I didn't want them to be apart. I think Emma is such a strong character. She really took the role of leading and I really like her. Jacob's pretty cool too even though he got on my nerves sometimes. You can see how far he's gotten with accepting his peculiar abilities.

The ending was a complete shocker and it makes me more excited to read Library of Souls which is coming out super soon!!! I can't wait to see how the fate of these cool peculiar peeps turn out. Fingers crossed for none of them dying.

Ransom Riggs deserves all the applause for this sequel. And for dedicating this book to his wife Tahereh. I don't know how they can get any cuter...until it happens!

Saturday, August 8, 2015

The Mean Girls Book Tag

Hey everyone! This tag was created by Sarah-Jane over at The Book Life. I enjoyed doing this tag and I hope you enjoy this post :)

P.S. Coincidentally, Mean Girls was on TV while I was typing this post up haha. 


1. "It's pronounced like Cady"- Which fictional character's names did you get completely wrong?

Tobias from the Divergent trilogy. I thought it was pronounced Tobee-is, then one day my sister told me it was Toe-bye-is, but I neglected to believe her...until the movie came out.

                                 

2. "She doesn't even go here!"- Which character would you like to place in a fictional world from another book or series?

I kinda want to see Juliette from the Shatter Me trilogy in the world from Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. She could totally help the peeps with killing wights and possibly hollows! Am I right or am I right?

                                 She doesn't even go here gif

3. "On Wednesday's we wear pink!"- Repetition. Repetition. Which book gave you dejavu of another book whilst reading it?

For some reason The Winners Curse by Marie Rutkoski kinda reminded me of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. It was a good dejavu though :)

                                  

4. "You all have to stop calling each other sluts and whores. It just makes it okay for guys to call you sluts and whores."- Which book gave you the opposite of girl power feels?
skip.

5. "You go Glen Coco!"- Name a character you wanted to cheer on whilst reading?

Tessa Gray from The Infernal Devices trilogy.

                                      

6. "Get in loser, were going shopping!"- How long do you typically spend at a book shop?

You ready for the truth? I've only ever been to a bookstore once, and I spent about an hour there {I know, not long enough!}. I buy most of my books on Amazon or Book Depository. Since I am now living the life of a poor college student, I don't buy books anymore. Instead, I check them out at my library.


7. "It's not my fault you're like in love with me or something!"- Which character would have to get out a restraining order on you, if they were real?

If Etienne St. Clair was real, then I don't think I could keep my distance from him ;)

it's not my fault you're like in love with me or something gif

8. "I can't help it that I'm popular."- Which overhyped book were you cautious about reading?

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, but let me just say the hype was real because this series is amazing!

i can't help it that I'm popular gif

9. "She's a life ruiner. She ruins peoples lives."- We all love Regina George. Name a villain you just love to hate.

Warner from the Shatter Me trilogy. Oh, Warner. I hate you, but I love you too.


10. "I'm not a regular Mom. I'm a cool Mom." - Your favorite fictional parents.

Hmmm hard one because parents are usually absent, but I choose America Singer's dad from The Selection series. I can't remember his name, but I loved him because I could tell how much he loved America and how proud he was of her. Also, Jocelyn Fray and Luke Garroway from The Mortal Instruments series.


11. "That is so Fetch!"- Which book or series would you love to catch on?

I don't think the Legend trilogy by Marie Lu has caught on. I know it's popular in the book community, but I don't think it's popular outside of that. So read it! Also, I think Morgan Matson's books are so fetch so you should read those too!


12. "How do I even begin to explain Regina George?"- Describe your ideal character to read about.

Hmmm, I don't know how to describe my ideal character so I'll just say they have to be realistic, relatable, funny, and witty.


13. "I just have a lot of feelings."- What do you do when a book gives you a bad case of 'the feels'?

I wish I could talk about all my feels with someone, but I can't because no one around me has read the book so they wouldn't understand. I usually just mope around, fake cry, or just keep the feels inside. I also have a tendency to search the hashtag of whatever book I am reading, but that's kinda dangerous because it leads to spoilers.

14. "Nice wig Janice, what's is made of?" "Your Mom's chest hair!"- Which characters one liners would you love to claim your own?

Let's be honest, I think Harry Potter characters have the best one liners and I always find myself quoting from that series.
your mum's chest hair gif

15. "Boo, you whore."- Name a time a characters decision has made you roll your eyes.

So many eye rolls for America Singer {The Selection series} AKA the most frustrating character of life AKA the girl who can't make rational decisions AKA the girl who keeps a lie to herself for the longest time. {Still love the series though}



Congrats for making it this far! You guys are awesome!