This review has been x posted at The Book TwinsIf there was words that existed to describe the length of my love for this book I would use them, but since there isn't, I will just say one thing: Holy. Damn. Amazingballs.
This is no surprise to those that have read it. Rick Yancey's The Fifth Wave has got to be one of the, hands-down best books I have read in years.
This was one of those highly anticipated books which everyone kept talking about wanting to read or have read. It definitely lived up to the hype and expectation.
The well-thoughtout characters to the devastating yet fascinating world building Yancey has created, there is simply nothing not to love about this book.
It may be the first in a new series but it might as well have been half way through, because the story was so thorough and planned out, I could not praise it enough.
Our main characters consist of female protagonist, Cassie; Evan and Ben. The book is also split up into sections and alternates POVs.
We're introduced how the world came to be how it is portrayed today. What happened to make it that way and how it hasn't stopped, just in a different stage. Cassie finds herself alone and fighting through life after the kidnapping of her brother. She soon meets mysterious and alluring Evan, who is someone she isn't sure she can trust. In a word such as this... I can't say I blame her. She'll do anything she can to find and locate her brother, Sammy, but she might have to trust Evan somewhat if he is her key in getting back the only family she has left.
This is a beautifully written story. It's tragic. Devastating and emotional as our characters slowly find the answers they are looking more... but will they find out more than they bargained for?
We're introduced to what exactly what the 5th Wave is, which happens to be the next stage of the elimination process of mankind, and it just may be the worst one yet.
There is a slow romance burning. It's not a main factor, but it is more like an ember slowly burning throughout the book, which will burn into the second book --- going by the ending, that is.
I absolutely loved Cassie. She is a lone ranger. A fighter. After all she has been through, I can understand why. Her brother is the only one she has and she takes it upon herself to do everything she can to look after him. Because if she doesn't, who will?
Evan I also loved from the beginning too. He was mysterious with secrets lurking in the shadows. There was something about him that appeared odd and suspicious... and just when you discover what he is hiding.... may shock you to the very core.
I absolutely anticipate the next book. Can August 2014 hurry up please? How do these publishers expect us to wait over a year? I just do not approve. Not at all.
Rating: 5/5
This review has been x posted at The Book TwinsThere have been so many YA dystopian novels out there recently that sometimes they begin to blur together to a point where you can't pick out originality. This story is definitely not anything like that.
Dan Well has created such a magnificent and thrilling story that intertwines Dystopian and Sci-Fi into one. It's done at a natural and realistic pace.
For quite a while, I had resisted reading this book for reasons I can't even think about now. I had actually heard about it via a friend who read and loved it. I don't even think I even comprehended what the story was even about at the time -- but later I then added it to my to-be-read list. I was then lucky to find it at a cheap price that I didn't even think twice about buying it. It only gave me even more incentive to read it.
It's the year 2076 -- many years into the future that we find ourselves at now, the human population has faded over recent times after a epidemic plague which killed off its many residents. The ones that did survive found that each child that was born into this world died not so soon after birth, even if they lived that long. There was some disease which was released by a species who was half machine. In hope to find a cure, the senate makes it law that all girls from 18 years upward must get pregnant as often as they could in hope to prolong humanity and to repopulate the world once more.
We meet Kira, sixteen years of age medic intern who is working in the maternity ward at the hospital. The more she sees the death of babies time after time starts to get to her. She wants to do something, to help somehow but doesn't know how. When her sister announces that she is pregnant, Kira then becomes determined to find a cure for this disease one way or another. She won't let another girl go through the turmoil that she has seen with everyone else after the death of a child. But she knows the problem is not with the birth... that it is far greater than any of the researchers are thinking about.
Dan Wells has created such an amazing world. It's horrifying. Intriguing and brings out so many matters in the genre. This is not just a dystopian world. When you add science and cyborbs, then you start to realize there is more to this novel than meets the eye.
Kira feels so much older than her sixteen years. In the beginning I totally thought she was in her early twenties because she is so mature for her age. It just goes to show what the world, especially this world can do to someone so young. She is a fighter. A survivor and that is what she will always be.
With the help of her friends, Kira knows she can accomplish the impossible. Not everyone believes her --- but when she sets her mind on something there is no going back. This is only the beginning...
While things start off slow in the beginning, the more you get involved in the plot and what is going on... the pace quickly changes and before you know it -- things have changed to a degree where it's impossible not to go along with the journey.
I can't wait to get my hands on the second book in this series. I know it's out -- so I'll definitely be getting on that ASAP.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Awe. Nice and bittersweet end to the series.I STILL can't get over the fact that these faeries are plants. LOL Just feels unnatural.
This review has been x posted at The Book TwinsAnd we are back into the fascinating mysteries of Finley Jayne and her friends.
The Girl with the Iron Touch is a thrilling, fascinating and addicting read. The story Kady Cross has created has enticed me from the very beginning. The beautiful world-building, historical setting and perfectly-matched characters only just adds to this historical steampunk series that will draw a single reader based on that fact alone.
In the third book in the gorgeous crafted world, we find our characters as they deal with individual issues and situations.
Finley has her hands full with her feelings for Griffin and for them to finally understand what is it between them. We also have the return of Jack Dandy, who comes and makes a difficult situation more complicated, but Finley will soon enough discover she had made her decision long ago but never realized it until now.
The sort of- triangle comes to a close as Finley does choose between the two men in her life.
There was so much progress for these two in this book. The moment they met in Book 1, I knew they were my OTP -- only they had to realize it. During the course of this book, both Griffin and Finley finally come to that place where they are ready to be able to accept their feelings for one another, and I say that it's about time.
This novel also deals with the relationship between Sam and Emily. These two have always felt something so strong for one another, but good luck in trying to get them to admit that. But when Emily suddenly goes missing --- this may be the thing that will have Sam fight for her once and for all, once he rescues her, that is.
Kady Cross has written yet another beautiful addition to this series, and while all of our beloved characters seem to have found their HEA, I did hear a whisper that we might have one more book left to tell.. in the form of Jack Dandy. Now, I am sure just about everyone would look forward to hearing his story and maybe, a happy ending?
Rating: 4.5 /5
This time around I actually liked Tamani and was rooting for him. The only thing I didn't like was the thought that Faeries were plants. I just find that very odd.
This review has been x posted at The Book TwinsWhat happens now that Claire has finally left Morganville to do the one thing she has always wanted to do?
In the fourteenth novel in this series, Rachel Caine does not stop at anything. If you think things had been becoming boring, then think again because this novel begins a new journey for our beloved characters.
Claire arrives at MIT to start a new journey for herself, to be able to see what else there is out there outside Morganville, but she soon discovers the true meaning of what Home is to her, and it may not be what she thought it was.
Claire's life at MIT starts to become a little out of control, she might start to reconsider leaving her friends, her boyfriend and Morganville after all.
This installment felt like a breath of fresh air when we see Claire in a new environment, a place outside of vampires and into a life she has always thought she wanted. But she may discover what she thought she wanted, and what is true could be two very different things.
But her life back in Morganville is not always lost on her when someone from her not so distant past comes along, keeping an eye on her.
This novel is full of adventure, excitement and realizations that your home will always be where your heart is.
We also get to see how things are going back in Morganville with our multiple POVs that continue in this book.
By the end of this, you can feel things might be starting to wrap up for an ending that I can see just on the horizon.
Rachel Caine has surprised me time and time again, and I look forward to the next novel.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
The second time around I liked this book so much more than I did originally. Now I feel better about continuing onto book 2. :)Review to follow.
This review has been x posted at The Book TwinsCecilia thought she had the perfect marriage, that is until she discovers a letter written to her from her husband in the case of his death. What happens when she decides to open it? She couldn't be prepared for the consequences of that one decision. That one action which will change everything she thought she knew, forever.
This novel goes through the lives of three different women who each discover a secret about someone close to them. A secret that could very well change everything they knew about their own lives and the people in it.
We start with Cecilia, who discovers a letter hidden in the attic written to her from her husband to be opened in the case of his death. This is something she brings up to him, and even though he dismisses it, she has the feeling that it's somewhat important. She might have been prepared to be surprised, but when she does open the letter and the contents are revealed ; Cecilia will be opening a can of worms that she will never be able to close again.
Then we have Tess, who has been married to Will for many years, but the soon discovers the ultimate betrayal; that he is in love with her best friend and cousin. With this new revelation, she packs up herself and her son and goes to stay with her mother for a while. During this time she'll be reaquainted with an old flame, new realisations and discoveries.
lastly, we have Rachel. She is a a woman who is haunted by a past she can't seem to forget. She is plagued with feelings of regret and revenge after the death of her daughter many years ago.
These three women, all who have secrets and issues themselves, start to connect to one another as you discover connections to one another. Can they discover a way to put the past where it belongs and move forward? Or will they always be haunted by secrets they will never be able to get rid of?
This novel moved me so vividly. Liane is a great storyteller. Not only on Australian fiction, but also into the real lives of women, secrets and lies. This story shows that it's not just women that hold secrets, but the men in our lives. Sometimes you can overcome them, and sometimes you can't all depending on the seriousness of the issue and if it's possible to work toward a resolution.
I loved the fact the marriage between Cecila and her husband, and Tess and her husband, Will went through some real-life situations and issues. Matters were brought up. The past came out in the open, and the issue of forgiveness and the ability to move on is brought to the table.
I definitely wouldn't mind reading more from this author, especially one who was able to make me engage into a story very quickly into a novel.
Thank you to Pan MacMillan for giving me this chance to review this book, and also to experience this new kind of story that I probably wouldn't have read on my own.
Rating: 5/5
Ripples on a Pond: A Woody Creek Novel 5
This review has been x posted at The Book TwinsIn the newest installment, Joy Dettman does not hold back on anything. This novel goes on to show how Cara deals with the fallout of the revelation made to her on her wedding night. It's one shocking thing after another. She is determined not to go back to Woody Creek, but as things turn out... you can't run from what is to be.
Georgie is also someone on an interesting path in life, as she is determined to do something more with her life than just working in a small town grocery store. Her life is about to start and there is nothing and nobody that will stop her, not even responsibilities to her younger sister, Margot.
It's 1970's. the time for change. The time for doing something special. The two girls aren't the only one who have things going on in their lives, Jenny's missing son, Jimmy has returned to town after being taken by his grandfather.
After inheriting an estate, he has determined to make a new life for himself.. but there is just one thing that he can't seem to shake, and that lies in Australia in the form of a girl he fell in love with. A girl who is now forbidden to him... who always was but just didn't know it.
In the second to last book of this series, Jenny's children has grown and Jenny herself has been through more than her fair share of trauma in her life. Things are winding down.
I felt so bad for Margot. Her mother never wanted her, and even says that Margot is her biggest mistake and regret. I think that is a poor thing to say. Yes, the circumstances around her birth are not ideal and would not wish that kind of thing on anyone, but to blame a child for something like that isn't the way to go. And the outcome of Margot.. I bet she never felt loved by Jenny, because she never loved her at all. Not like her other children.
I look forward to see the end of this series. To see how this series will close. This is such a unique and beautifully written set of stories. Joy Dettman is one of a kind with a knack of storytelling unlike anyone else.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
This review has been x posted at The Book TwinsI would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this chance to review this installment in this great series.
We are back in Nikki, Mace and Raven's world as Nikki has to make some tough choices, choose who she wants to be, and who she wants to be with (I personally think the choice was evident since the beginning) and do what it takes to become the person she needs to be in these trying times.
This was a great end to the series (though I am hearing whispers about a possible fourth book? Maybe focusing on Raven given the ending) that ties up the relationship between Nikki, Mace and Raven. It ties up things that you had wondered about.
It was with her faith and love (but in different ways) for both boys that gave her the strength to grow into the person she was determined to become as she goes on her final mission.
Heather did a great job at ending this trilogy and I was definitely happy about the outcome. I have loved all these characters, the main three especially. It pulled at my heart strings at some moments between Mace and Nikki, and Raven and Nikki. But sometimes being on the losing side of a triangle isn't always a losing battle, sometimes it makes you grow and change so that person has the ability to find happiness elsewhere. Sometimes it is going through that experience of love and loss is what prepares you and makes you believe again.
Nikki was an amazing lead character for this series. She was young and lost in the beginning, things changed quickly when she met this group of guys who, in the end, changed her life and made her stronger and more alive than ever before.
If there will be a spinoff, I'd definitely check it out. But if not.. that's fine for me too, since the ending was a satisfying one, but leaves things open for more exploration.
4 out of 5.
This review has been x posted at The Book TwinsThis is the first book that follows Jenny's daughters as main characters in this series. The two girls have grown up differently from one another. Cara was adopted out when she was born not fully knowing her birth parents.
Georgie has seen what marriage does to people and tells herself that she won't go down the same path that her mother did, but instead will take the road her grandmother did, surviving without a man.
Joy dettman does an amazing job with these characters and the new aspect she has brought along with this series. As the time speeds forward we get to see characters age and mature as they go through different aspects of life. Not only do we see where Jenny is, but how her relationship is with her children.
Cara grew up in Sydney and when she falls for a boy from her past, the identity of who he really is will shock her to the core. I know I was shocked and could not believe that had happened, or what I would do in a situation like that.
Georgie finds herself amongst the affections of Teddy and soon enough, the consequences of her actions seem a little too similar of her mother.
This is another great installment, though you can feel the series is slowly winding down. The shift in characters from Jenny, to her daughters gives you that feeling.
Georgie and Cara soon find their lives connecting as they meet for the first time, as Cara wants to get to know the family that she never got to know. But sometimes... the truth won't always be what you want to hear, or like.
This book contains one of the craziest cliffhanger endings I have read. Hearts will break and mouths will drop open in the final pages of this installment.
Can't wait to see how things will progress from this point on.