Jasna

I have always said that the hardest books to review are the ones we love the most, and I'm not doing Siege and Storm justice at all. Leigh Bardugo has crafted a novel that I will cherish among my favourites. Siege and Storm  managed to blow me away. I just ate up all the chaos and wonder that is Ravka.

1. The World-Building -  I love the world that Leigh Bardugo has created. It has a really fast pace and a unique Russian inspired story, which is so different from other fantasy books I have read. It's haunting and cold and the images are very vivid. 

2. Sturmhond - Yes. Sturmhond our newest recruit, really stole the show (and my heart). Arrogant, handsome, capable, charming, and commanding. He has the best dialogue EVER. His witty comments had me smiling throughout the book!

3. Alina is such a strong character. She’s come so far from the mousy orphan we met at the beginning of Shadow & Bone. Alina is really the driving force behind this entire book, and so, SO human. 

4. THE DARKLING -  The sexy beast is still sexy. He's darker and more dangerous than ever and I can't help but be drawn to him. 

5. The Writing -  I feel the magic of Leigh Bardugo’s words, the power of the world she created.Her rich, lush descriptions are beyond compare, and her characters are equally magical. Bringing raw forth emotion upon its reader. It wasn't hard for me to fall back into Ravka without a second though.

I hate to admit this, but I am a sucker for reality TV. While I know a lot of it is staged and altered, I can get sucked into the stories so easily. This book is definitely going to be in the back of my mind while watching them in the future.

I wasn't expecting much from this read from the beginning, but I really grew to care about Bonnie's experiences over the course of the story. I felt for her and spent most of the book furious with her negligent parents, reality TV, and a world where things like this go unnoticed or unremarked upon. You root for Bonnie and her search for love, happiness and acceptance. I couldn't put it down. I devoured Something Real in less than 24 hours.

Heather Demetrios's book is a study in total family dysfunction, the harm of reality TV shows, and escapism in all its many faces. It describes how damaging these shows can be, especially to children who find themselves being taped 24/7. I can't imagine being in the spotlight at the most crucial times in a child's life.

Very well written and a really honest look at families we get and the families we make.The characters were very well written and easy to relate to. And I absolutely LOVE  the relationship between Bonnie and Benton. In my opinion Benton deserves his own book. :)
There is no insta-love in this book. It was beautiful to see a teenage love story played out in an honest and beautiful way. Bonie and Patrick's relationship was very nicely done. I loved how quirky they both were and how these quirks seemed to forge a bond between them. It

For a book  about reality TV, this one has a lot of heart. This story was amazing and would be eye-opening for any fans of reality TV. If you choose any contemporary book this year- THIS is the book you need to read! 

Alienated by Melissa Landers

Finally!

The Fault In Our Stars Official Sneak Peek

• I was super excited when I read the blurb for RED RISING, I was captivated immediately. This book had me hooked from the very beginning:

 "I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war." 

• The story takes place on Mars, inside a futuristic colony. The society of this world is really interesting and complex. It's divided up into different social classes. Your place in society is decided by your color. Darrow is Red, the lowest of the low. I like the caste system and all the political stuff behind it.

• Speaking of  Darrow, I LOVED him. He and his people live beneath the surface, mining for the elements necessary to terraform Mars. Then, Darrow discovers that the Martian surface is already colonized and the upper classes are using the Reds as slaves. Thus begins his thirst for revenge. He makes decisions, he makes mistakes, and he learns from his mistakes. His motivations changed, his beliefs changed, and even his view of the world changed.  Darrow's evolution as a character is wonderfully done and is not at all rushed. 

"I live for the dream that my children will be born free. That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them."

"I live for you," I say sadly.

She kisses my cheek. "Then you must live for more."

• This is a dystopian adventure not a dystopia carried by romance. There is very little romance in this book, and the romance that does exist is reasonable and never overshadows the actual plot.

"We grew together, and now are grown. In her eyes, I see my heart. In her breath, I hear my soul. She is my land. She is my kin. My love."

• This is not a YA book. It doesn't have a Young Adult feel to it. I would recommend this to older teens as there is a lot of violence, sexual themes and adult situations and language. The topic of rape comes up several times in the story, and I’m happy to say that it’s handled with care. Rape scenes are brief and non-graphic. Darrow’s strategy for punishing rape in his own rank and file is rather genius.

• Lots of people are comparing this to Hunger Games. But I can't, to do so would be insulting to Red Rising. It's so much more than that. This book has more story than most Hollywood blockbuster films. It shouldn't be compared to anything.

• SO MUCH ACTION. Braveheart, Gladiator, Spartacus - put them all in a blender and blast them off to Mars. What you'll get is Red Rising. What an intense thrill ride! This is the way I like my young adult books written – mature, believable, memorable, jarring, emotional, and absolutely unique. Red Rising is so fast paced, so violent, so in your face that it's impossible to put down. It's  Gladiator on steroids and it's a guaranteed night without sleep.

• I love Pierce Brown’s writing. He has created one very wild, very disturbing foray into the future. He knows how to develop strong characters. What can I say?  I just really love reading books written by men, from a man's POV. :)

• Overall, Red Rising is a new favorite of mine, and the start to what I’m sure will be an amazing trilogy!  Mr Brown you are a genius and a madman. I hereby pledge to buy and read ANYTHING written by Pierce Brown for the rest of his career.

read the actual review on the blog:

I always love reading Brigid Kemmerer stories, usually feel deprived when i finished with the lest one and have to wait for the next to come out.

This one was no exception. If you've read Breathless (Elemental, #2.5) you know the big secret, if you haven't you'll learn it in the first few pages!
Needless to say I liked how everything was handled and that nothing was gained easily.

THIS BOOK! Those were the two words I kept repeating after I finished Eleanor & Park. Once in a while, there is a book that hits the market and blows the readers away. I was kinda at a loss for words. If I start praising the book, my words stock wouldn't be sufficient enough to describe my inner feelings. I've been reading raving reviews for this book a while now, and even though I was the last to arrive at the party, I finally gave it a go. And, man, I'm so glad I did ! Brace yourself for a lot of quotes. . . Just a warning. I cannot do these characters justice, so I'm letting Rainbow Rowell words speak for themselves.

 

I'm not a regular comic book reader, but I was drawn to The Walking Dead because I'm a huge fan of the show. And once I started reading I finished all the volumes in a couple of days without putting them down. I can see why this series has such success and has gotten so much acclaim.

I like the comics much better then the show, but I think the series has reached a level of mediocrity ever since issue #100. Boring plots, repetitive scenarios and characters. I don't doubt that humanity could sink to some frightening depths in a disaster such as this, but some of the later chapters were so over-the-top it seemed they where put there just for simple shock value.

I didn't enjoy this volume as much as others. It's the equivalent of the second season of the show where nothing really happens. It feels like Kirkman is just running on repeat right now. The story drags on with a build-up to "the war" and the main battle is still to come. This means that people will get to follow the tragically boring exploits of Rick and his crew as they do battle with Negan AKA The Governor Part II. Kill Negan already! There are some interesting parts that I honestly enjoyed, but the overall story is so over-the-top silly. 

I really hope Volume 20 will get things back on track with a quality blend of genuine character development, heart-in-your-throat action, and satisfying plot twists. If you're reading this because you're a fan of the show and are looking to start reading the comics, there is no better place to start. So anyone in need of a very well done zombie fix should absolutely get down with The Walking Dead sickness. Come witness the end of the world. . . and the beginning of a new one.

There is distinction (in my head at least) between chick-lit and contemporary romance. The first one is more light-hearted the second usually features some kind of issue the the MC works thought the book.
The only issue the heroin had here was her problem to, ahm, "finish" (sex-vise). So, no, i didn't like this particular chick-lit.