Review: Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

What this book is about... 

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.
Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.
And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning - and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.
He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

My initial expectations...

Just over a year ago, around Christmas, I picked up this book at my local bookstore on a whim. I hadn't even bothered to read the synopsis on the back. Honestly, I bought it because the cover was just way to shiny to pass up and (for the first time in forever) I had money to spare. On New Year's Eve I picked this one off my shelf only after realizing I was one book short of my yearly reading goal.

What I liked about this book...

I was not prepared for all the craziness this book threw at me. And by craziness, I mean awesomeness. Have any of you ever come across a book that you don't really expect much from, but then, all of the sudden you find yourself completely obsessed? Well, that was my experience with this book. 

The idea of supervillains taking over America (and possibly other areas of the world) was definitely unexpected. It's something you think would only work as a graphic novel or as a film. Surprisingly though, Sanderson executed this concept almost perfectly through the YA genre. 

While it was serious and action-packed all throughout, I really enjoyed how there was also a fair amount of humor that came about not only through the dialogue, but also through the protagonist's inner thoughts. Good on David for not totally succumbing a moody personality that usually comes with a protagonist seeking revenge. 

The characters weren't the only thing I loved about this book. The plot was mind-blowing, especially near the end. While I'm not going to give any specific details, the big reveal at the end had me physically shaking with shock and excitement. 

What I didn't like about this book...

Though I enjoyed the pace, I consistently got confused at one point or another while reading the intense action scenes. I kept on needing to go back a page or two to figure out where the character was or what he was doing because everything was just happening so fast and they were moving all over the place. I would turn a page and realize that they had changed locations entirely, and have little to no idea how they got there. 

Additionally, David's inability to use proper and/or logical metaphors went from cute and funny to annoying really quick. Half the time I imagined that whenever Sanderson wanted to add a 'metaphor' he just stuck his hand into a bowl of random things, pulled out two and purposely failed to relate them to one another. Same goes for the Epics (the supervillains) and their powers/weaknesses. 

(Thankfully, Sanderson explains the logic behind the Epics' weaknesses in book two much better). 

My overall views...

While there was a few things here and there that annoyed and or confused me, this book had me captured from the very beginning. David was both brave and inspiring throughout the book. His determination to go out of his way to help people made me fall head over heels for him (which is something that definitely doesn't happen often). I really respect Sanderson for trying something so risky and unique. 

I give this book 5/5 stars on Goodreads!

Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes! I've basically recommended this book to everyone already.

Would I re-read this book? Maybe. Because I already knew the big reveal at the end, I feel that it may not be as exciting a second time around. 

Favourite quotes...

“Never throw the first punch. If you have to throw the second, try to make sure they don't get up for a third.”

“We were like deaf people trying to dance to a beat we couldn't hear, long after the music actually stopped.” 

“I have a smoke grenade in my room," I said.
"What?" Megan asked. "How?"
"I grew up working at a munitions plant," I said. "We mostly made rifles and handguns, but we worked with other factories. I got to pick up the occasional goody from the QC reject pile."
"A smoke grenade is a goody?" Cody asked.
I frowned. What did he mean? Of course it was. Who wouldn't want a smoke grenade when offered one?”

“Where there are villains, there will be heroes. Just wait. They will come.”

What did you guys think? Have you read anything similar? Would you rather be an Epic or a Reckoner? If you were a Reckoner, what would your position on the team be? If you were an Epic, what would your ability be? 

Review: Stolen Songbird by Danielle L Jensen

What the book is about...

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.
Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.
But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.
As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

My initial expectations...

To be honest, I had little to no hopes for this book when I first picked it up to read. The biggest turn off in my opinion was the trolls. All I could picture in my head at first were those short and chubby little pencil toppers that I used to collect as a kid and it was hard to even fathom a relationship between a beautiful girl and something so ghastly. 

What I liked about this book...

Have you ever picked up a book and from the very first page you knew you were going to love it? Well, that my basically my first impression of Danielle L. Jensen’s debut novel. The words flow perfectly and so does the dialogue. In short, the characters are witty, passionate, and the developments individually and amongst one another are beautiful and heart-wrenching. At first, I was a bit confused about how Prince Tristan, who was exceptionally rude from the start, could catch the heart of Cecil, such a caring and innocent young girl. But as the plot played out and the characters were more and more open towards one another, I admired how believable the author had been able to make the Prince’s outside demeanor seem, even to her readers. 

What I didn't like about this book...

If I could give one downfall to this amazing novel it would be the overall vagueness of the setting and its history. There were many places in which the author could have given the readers a more detailed account of the history of the trolls and the outside world. Throughout the plot the readers are presented with only bits and pieces of information about the trolls and their history and it was ultimately very frustrating trying to connect them all. Hopefully Jensen will elaborate in the sequel, Hidden Huntress.

My overall views...

It’s a very long book with very long chapters, which is usually something I just cannot tolerate. This book is definitely an exception. There’s never a dull moment, with so many twists and turns that leave me begging for more. While the ending was somewhat predictable, I believe it was a necessary display of the developments the characters had made and had been building upon throughout the book.

I give this book 4.5/5 stars on Goodreads!

Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes. I’d recommend this book to both fantasy and romance lovers. Though many stray away from fantasy books because they seem so complex at a glance, this book is very comprehensive overall.

Would I read it again? Yes. Not anytime soon, but eventually.

Favourite quotes...

“I think it is our nature to believe evil always has an ugly face,” he said, ignoring my question. “Beauty is supposed to be good and kind, and to discover it otherwise is like a betrayal of trust. A violation of the nature of things.”

“I cannot stop the world from moving. All I can do is be prepared for when it does.”

“Dying was and easy thing to accomplish, effortless in its agony. It was living that was hard, requiring endless toil and labor, and for all one's efforts, it could be stolen in an instant.”

“They aren't ugly." I bit my lip, trying to find the right words. "more like beautiful things that have had the misfortune of being broken.”

“You looked ridiculous walking around the city carrying an empty wineglass. I don't care to be associated with a drunk. Particularly one who damages glassware.”

What did you guys think? Did you like the romance? Did you like the ending? Have you ever read any books that didn't sound so appealing at first, but then they turned out to be amazing?

Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

What the book is about...

Chloe Saunders' life will never be the same again.
All she wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. She doesn't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that she saw her first ghost - and the ghost her me.
Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave her alone. To top it all off, Chloe's somehow got herself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Chloe thinks there might be more to her housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to her to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House...before its skeletons come back to haunt her.

My initial expectations...

I had already finished the Darkest Rising trilogy by the time I picked this up. I had only just found out that the Darkest Rising was a sort of spin off of the Darkest Powers trilogy. Since I absolutely loved the Darkest Rising trilogy, I was excited to read its predecessors.  

What I liked about this book...

I've always enjoyed the way Armstrong writes. Her style is neither too complex nor too simple, which makes it a fast-paced and comprehensive read.
Not that I enjoy hearing about things like puberty and periods and acne, but I appreciate the fact that Armstrong mentions these things throughout her book. These teens are realistic, not overly-polished dolls and or models which have a habit of appearing in almost every other urban YA book. 

What I didn't like about this book...

My biggest issue with this book wasn't the characters or the plot, but the use of the word 'Schizo'. I get that this book is fictional, but I don't think its appropriate to go throwing around that word like its a joke or an insult. Mental illness is a serious and very real issue that should not be taken lightly. The moment Chloe first called herself that without a second thought, she lost my respect and my interest.
Besides that there were a bit too many cliches. Love triangle. Bleh. Love triangle between two brothers. Double bleh. The one queen bee bitch who also has a thing for one of the love interests. Too many blehs to count. The eventual romance between two of the main characters was a bit too obvious to be enjoyable. Though it thankfully wasn't too fast paced. 

My overall views...

As the book progressed, I cared less and less about the characters and whether or not they were safe. To make things worse, Armstrong got rid of the only character I really liked within the first few chapters. This book had so much potential. With a little tweaks here and there it could have been enjoyable.

I give this book 3/5 stars on Goodreads!

Would I recommend it to anyone? Maybe.

Would I read it again? No. 

What did you guys think? Which series do you like better: The Darkest Powers or The Darkest Rising? Did you see that romance coming, or was it just me?

Review: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

What the book is about...

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed, yet she hasn’t aged a day.
Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken .and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

My initial expectations...

I've loved Kimberly Derting ever since I picked up The Pledge a few years back. However, while I love Derting and her writing style, I'm not the biggest fan of anything extraterrestrial-related. Personally, I prefer to enjoy aliens on the silver screen exclusively. I'm a big X-Files fan, but that's pretty much it.

What I liked about this book...

My favourite scenes were always the ones where Kyra met up with one of the people she had been close with before she was taken. They were awkward, uncomfortable and emotional. With each one I grew more and more sympathetic for Kyra and started to feel what she felt.
I also really liked seeing how much the characters had changed over the years. I don't know exactly why, it was just enjoyable.
Though it slowed down a bit in the middle, the character and plot development was well paced. It was a relief not having the author shove the protagonist's superhuman abilities or the romance in my face before I was able to absorb everything else. It was suspenseful, but not to the point where I felt rushed. 

What I didn't like about this book...

The romance, while not too fast or too ooey gooey, just didn't appeal to me. Near the end I was a bit more into than I was before, but not to the point where I actually cared. In fact, I almost felt like it was just a filler to let the author space key plot points out.

My overall views...

Surprisingly, I enjoyed this book. Not necessarily for the characters or the romance, but for the plot and the theme, the one thing I had been worried about liking. Throughout, Derting kept me wanting more and more and more until the point where I was so I love with this book I couldn't stop thinking about it, even once I'd moved on to other books. 

I give this book 4/5 stars on Goodreads!

Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes! Too anyone who loves aliens and suspense.

Would I read it again? Nah. But I'm definitely excited for the sequel!

Favourite quotes...

“Love required sacrifice and making hard choices and doing things that were bigger than just you. It wasn't something you asked for, or could control or change. It was something you accepted. Love was a force of nature.”

What did you guys think? Did you like or dislike the romance? Why or why not? Please feel free to recommend to me any other alien or suspense YA novels you think I or others might like?

Review: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

What this book is about...

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.
Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.
But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

What initial expectations...

Like every other person who has picked up this book, I was under the impression that it would be just another Hunger Games. For those that don't know me, I have a very...um, unique...view on the Hunger Games series. I don't like it. (I might explain to you all one day, but today is not that day) Consequently, this book wasn't necessarily something I wanted to devote my time and energy to. However, since it was a gift from a close friend of mine, I pushed myself to at least try and get through this. 

What I liked about this book...

While it is true that this book shares a lot with the Hunger Games, it is original in its own way (at least from my perspective). 

Very few of the books I've read and/or heard of feature a protagonist whose main strengths are mental instead of physical. I really admired Cia's ability to be innovative in times of danger, trying her best to avoid harm to others at all cost. She's basically the Macgyver of the new generation. Even when danger and violence was unavoidable, she always found the strength to continue on until the very end. At least once I was brought to tears over how determined and inspiring she could be.

Unlike with Katniss, I could easily relate to Cia. I guess its mostly because we both love learning and challenges, even if they make us super nervous sometimes. 

Out of all the YA books I've read recently, this one has the least number of cliches. Most importantly, there was no love triangle. Thankfully, the romance was well-paced and it didn't overwhelm me like most YA romances do. Respect to Cia for not letting a boy get in the way of success. 

In addition to that, I was relieved to find that Cia wasn't a brat like many of the female protagonists I've encountered lately. She didn't waste her time complaining about simple things like boys and appearances, which made her 100x more likable. 

Finally, my favourite aspect to this book was the mystery surrounding The Testing and what happened to the contestants after they left the competition. That's what pushed me to keep on reading. 

What I didn't like about this book...

That ending. I still can't decide whether I love it or hate it. I was so frustrated with the author for doing what she did, but at the same time it made me want to go and read the next book even more. I don't know whether you can call it a cliffhanger though. 

My overall views...

This book was surprisingly enjoyable. It restored my hope in the dystopian genre that I had lost after reading the Hunger Games. So what if it isn't that original? Most books aren't. Charbonneau took a concept I hated and made it her own. I loved it for its plot, its protagonist, and even for its romance. 

I give this book 4.5/5 stars on Goodreads!

Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes! If you love dystopian, I urge you to pick this one up!

Would I read it again? Maybe. I've already read it twice. Once when it first came out and once just recently to refresh my memory. 

Favourite quotes...

“Leaders are forced to kill all the time. Then they have to learn to live with the decisions they make. Just like I'm going to learn to live with mine.”

“...the biggest failures typically come before the biggest breakthroughs. That no matter what, I should never get discouraged. Learn from my mistakes and all will be well.”

“Things don't always work out the way we hope. You just have to pick yourself up and find a new direction to go in.”

What did you guys think? Was it too much like the Hunger Games? Were you as frustrated with the ending as I was? Who was your favourite character? Who was your least favourite character?