Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness: Book Review

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1)

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Summary (via Goodreads): Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him — something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn't she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd's gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is.

This book was insanely good and epic. I highly suggest it for fans of the action packed series like Divergent or Hunger Games. This was definitely an action book - you can tell that from the summary - but it wasn't just a book that had lots of fighting, nor did it glorify the fights that they certainly did encounter. 

The main point of this book was against 1) the sharing of information, especially in a public way (*hint* facebook *hint*). The idea of the Noise is so that everyone can hear everything you do, say, think, see. It's pretty terrifying and kind of like a constant refreshing Twitter, except you can't control it. Yes, there are ways to block it out for a small amount of time, but it's always there. And that's a pretty scary concept to deal with. The next major point was against violence. Yes, a book with the word 'knife' in the title is super against violence. The main portion of the second half was spent dealing with Todd's internal conflict between killing and not. This is ramped up by the presense of Aaron, a 'preacher,' who pushes him toward thinking more critically about becoming a killer. The knife is such a metaphor and the title really pushes you to think that way. Brilliant title naming.

Todd is such a lovable character and maybe that's because you know what he's thinking all the time. He's not warm or fuzzy exactly, because of the larger focus on the world and action, but he makes good and bad decisions. He's a human and therefore is both loved and hated. Manchee, his dog, is super adorable. Unlike most talking animals, he actually makes sense (think the dog from the Disney movie Up). Viola is one of the strongest female characters in the book (wait ---the only female character) and she stands up for herself while keeping Todd rooted toward his goal. This is really an epic trio to follow around New World. 

Which let's talk about this world, shall we?

New World's colonies are all different and unique, like the differences between the states in the US. Prentisstown is definitely the worst and it may not seem that way until the end. The world is so built up and important to everything the character's do. It's a swampy disaster, a jungle, a waterfall. The descriptions are beautiful, yet creepy, as they travel along to experience the different ways the various settlements are dealing with the Noise. There is a lot of fear in every one of these places, but each tries to work its way around it. Some do very well at this, while others are little...um....freaky. 

So why the four stars? Because pages 300-400 were needless and just made the book a whole lot longer. These could easily have been taken out and the two plot points inserted in another, hopefully shorter, way. So that's why the four stars. I have to start getting harsher here! 

That's it! Do read this book, I highly suggest it. The writing style (very Mark Twain-esque) can take a while to get used to, but it just adds a new layer. 

Have fun with your next read! 


Saturday, November 9, 2013

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick Review

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

This book is one of my favorite books of this year - wait - life. I adored this book because it was truthful and honest. 

The main character is Leonard Peacock, who decides on his birthday, to kill his 'friend' and then himself. The entire premise is scary and terrifying, but so intriguing. The side characters are very important, as before he kills himself, he gives four presents to the four people he cares about. His old neighbor, Walt, made me cry during their last scene together. The violin player he listened to every day after school. The girl that he liked, but didn't like him back. His Holocaust teacher. All of them reacted in very different ways to the gifts, which also made them seem different as people. Another important thing is that they represent other ways that people could be prejudiced against - dealing with addictions, race, religion, and sexual orientation. The characters really make this book. 

The premise is both heartbreaking and intriguing. Matthew Quick handles this amazingly and really gets into the head of a person who is really dealing with these types of situations. It is extremely eye opening. 

Please read this book. It is amazing. Just do it. It will probably change your life. 

5/5 stars

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano Review

Perfect Ruin (Internment Chronicles, #1)

 Summary (from Goodreads): On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.


Review:

And just when you thought the dystopian genre had been exhausted, Lauren DeStefano comes up with this gem. Perfect Ruin is the firs book in the Internment Chronicles, a new trilogy. Her first, the Chemical Garden books, were terrible. However, I decided to give her books another chance because the summary was so intriguing. 

Internment is a city in the sky, characterized by its love of trains, extreme monarchy, and careful population control. People can also jump off the city in the sky, called jumpers, who are trying to kill themselves. Morgan's brother, Lex, is one of these. The book kicks off when Daphne, a fellow classmate, is killed in a city supposedly without problems. This leads to a chain of crimes in the city. 

Morgan is one of the best female characters. She isn't strong like Tris or Katniss. She is honestly a normal girl reacting in the same way I would (like a better version of Clary). Her best friend, Pen, would be amazing to have as a best friend. She is extremely funny and witty, the perfect comparison to Morgan. Basil is adorable and my new fictional boyfriend. Thomas and Pen were also very cute together, in a different way.

The book is written beautifully and all the pictures of the world are so drawn out. It is perfect for those looking for a fast paced read, while not necessarily action. Love, love, loved this book. Highly suggest. 

5/5 stars

Monday, November 4, 2013

Allegiant by Veronica Roth Review

Allegiant (Divergent, #3)

If you have not read Insurgent, do not read this post! I do suggest this series though.

When I first ended the book, I thought this was the worst ending that anyone could come up with. I was angry, just about ready to throw the series to the wayside. I hated the book, but it was probably just being emotionally drained. After rereading the majority of it, I am now emotionally stable enough to write a coherent review. Not a good one, just a little bit less scathing. 

Plot: I highly disagreed with the way this one turned out. Honestly, I don't even think it was very realistic. I knew after reading Insurgent that Veronica Roth had written herself into a corner, but I still hoped that she would pull herself through. Not exactly. This book missed the crazy action we normally love and the plot moved slowly. It wasn't enjoyable or believable and that harmed the book as a whole. 

Characters: The dual povs also hurt this book. Four was whiny and had no self confidence. He made rash decisions and totally stepped outside of his character. Tris should have had the entire perspective, or maybe Caleb, as Veronica mentioned in an interview. Four's perspective just hurt the book because his chapters were boring. I really feel in love with Caleb and Cara, who turned out to be my favorite characters and Christina remained epic as usual. Our new characters were very off-putting and easy to see through, which is probably needed to develop them in one book. I also really liked the back story we received with Tris' mom. 

Writing: Veronica did not disappoint. It was beautifully written, with every sentence making a punch. Towards the end, it did get a little preachy as Four said lots of pointless things for twenty pages, but overall, it was still very good. 

Message: After initially reading this, I could find none. From this series, it lacked the one thing I though it needed to become a major hit that would withstand time. I could not find an essential meaning. At the end of this book, a major plot point does reveal something major that ties the book together well, while not necessarily the best. 

Rating: 2/5 Stars

Saturday, November 2, 2013

October Wrap Up and Haul

October is at a close, and with it, the books that I have read. Let's check out my TBR and compare what actually happened.


  • Allegiant by Veronica Roth   review coming soon
  • House of Hades by Rick Riordan review
  • Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare review coming soon
  • Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell review
  • Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano
Four out of five, not bad! Here are the six books I purchased this month:


Allegiant (Divergent, #3)The House of Hades (The Heroes of Olympus, #4)Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1)Marked (House of Night, #1)Betrayed (House of Night, #2)Ruby Red (Precious Stone Trilogy, #1)

Lots of dark books! Not sure when I'll read the last four, but I am excited for them each. Let me know if you've read any in the comments below.

And that's October. Hope you had a wonderful month!

Friday, November 1, 2013

November To Be Read

It's November and that means a new to be read list, bigger than October! I've picked out ten books for me to (hopefully) read during this month. Let's see my picks, shall we?

Reboot (Reboot, #1) Reboot by Amy Tintera. This book is sure to be action-packed and a quick read, perfect for the ever hectic month I'll be having (did I mention NaNoWriMo?)

Never Fade (The Darkest Minds, #2) Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken. I'm a little hesitant with this one because Darkest Minds was so heartbreaking and also long, but the reviews have been fantastic.

Level 2 (The Memory Chronicles, #1) Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans. I'm a little nervous for this one because of the negative reviews, but it's been on my shelf forever.

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1) The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. THE COVER, man. The cover.

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2) Frostbite by Richelle Mead. Not sure why I'm so prepared for the second Vampire Academy book because I didn't like the first one. Maybe it's the movie?

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. I'm so anxious to read this...EEP!

Champion (Legend, #3) Champion by Marie Lu. I've loved the Legend trilogy so far, so let's hope this one is as epic as the last two.

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. This is, of course, a re-read as I prepare myself for the movie. *deep breaths*

The Carrie Diaries (The Carrie Diaries, #1) The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell. After all this action, I should probably have a fun read to let my mind relax and I love the TV show.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. As a Native American myself, I'm excited for this look from another person's perspective. It sounds amazingly brilliant.

That's it! I'll post reviews as I go. Wish me luck. :)

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare Review

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)

Rating: 4/5 Stars
If you have not read Clockwork Angel, the first book in this trilogy, this review still has spoilers! If you have not read Clockwork Prince, you will be safe.

Overall, I thought this book was slow. Until the last 100 pages or so kicked in. It seemed like we spent a whole lot of time doing just about nothing, including multiple failed attempts to find Mortmain. Charlotte has been set up to find Mortmain, or she will lose the Institute, so you would think that is the major priority in this book.

Except, no, not really.

During this book, we get the "conclusion" of the love triangle. Throughout the failed attempts, Tessa is accompanied on her missions by either Jem or Will and stuff happens. Mostly in carriages and under balconies and pretty much everywhere. This book is mainly Tessa's decision between the two as they are finally put under equal light. In the end, she does make a decision, even though it may not be right for her. This part is the only thing that really grabs readers, until the main chunk of action at the end.

There is some exciting stuff going on with London, as well as the expansion of Will's backstory which was very intriguing. We also got some more of Magnus Bane, whom I am always a fan of, but not so much Camille, who I am also a fan of. Jessamine's character is also expanded upon more, but you have to wait until the end to see that story line really unfold. Sophie also gets more book time with a new love interest :).

So, in essence, the book is like a Clockwork Angel - part 2, which I guess it should be considering it's a sequel. I wouldn't say it suffered sequel syndrome, but it definitely had some side effects.

I highly suggest this series (at least what I've read of it) and it is MUCH better than the Mortal Instruments. I will probably not get around to Clockwork Princess for a while, maybe January? Late December? Hopefully this book packs more of a punch. It certainly has room for it.