Book Review: A Thousand Pieces Of You

About the book

Title: A Thousand Pieces Of You
Author: Claudia Gray
Series: Firebird #1
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Expected Publication: November 3rd, 2015
Read: July 2017

My Copy

Publisher: HarperTeen
Edition: Paperback
Purchase Location: Thalia, Hamburg

My Rating:

Goodreads Summary

Marguerite Caine's physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite's father is murdered, and the killer—her parent's handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul— escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him. Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul's guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father's death is far more sinister than she expected.

My Spoiler Free Review

I’m so happy to write my first review in months about this great book! I loved reading A Thousand Pieces of You and it totally brought me out of my reading hiatus. If you ever find yourself in a reading slump I recommend you pick up this book because I couldn’t stop reading it even though I was on a city getaway in Hamburg (and spent way too much time in our apartment reading, instead of discovering the city).

No regrets, though, none at all! Claudia Gray’s writing enchanted me from the very beginning. I have to admit I bought this book because of its cover. Isn’t it absolutely gorgeous? How glad was I to discover that the content was just as great. Traveling through different dimensions, experiencing alternative universes, chasing a murderer and discovering that nothing is as it seems. What more turbulence do you need in a gripping story?

Although Marguerite happened upon this adventure due to a devastating event, the very detailed experiences she goes through lets her develop herself as an even stronger character and lets her bond with her friends and family on so many new levels. Gray did an amazing job in creating an enthralling reading environment from page one on.

This was my first dimension-travel-book that I’ve read. (We’re just going to ignore the entire Marvel and DC comics because let’s face it, the amount of alternate universes and earths they have is giving me a headache. ) I’m so intrigued by this entire premise, I mean can you even imagine what it would be like to travel to another dimension, where your sister might have been a brother or you actually did manage to overcome your phobia of needles and get that tattoo you dreamed of? (These universes would be harmless in comparison to all the other things that could have gone different in our world, but I’m gonna stay positive here.)

I’m so surprised that I didn’t pick up a book with this kind of background earlier, but I’m glad that ATPOY (see what I did there?) was my first in this “genre”. There were some things I’m not all too comfortable with, though. When the characters jump to another dimension, they inhabit that version-of-them’s body. Now that’s just wrong. I mean, it’s still very unclear to me how much those people remember when the intruders leave their bodies and hop to the next dimension (and I wished it would have been explained better), but in theory they could lose months of their lives. How would you feel when you come to yourself, discovering you’re on the other side of earth with no clue how you got there in the first place? I’d feel robbed. I could go on about free will and all the immoral things about this, but luckily, this is just fiction.

Okay, I think I need to stop here. There are so many illogical happenings and plot twists I could talk about, you’d be sitting in front of your screen reading my review three days on. Nonetheless, I really liked this book and I need to get my hands on the sequel Ten Thousand Skies Above You.

Isn’t the entire series just gorgeous? Have you read ATPOY or even the entire series already? What are your thoughts on it or are you going to pick it up? How equally scary and awesome would it be if we could actually travel through dimension? (I have to be honest though, I’d like things to stay the way they are and hope that this is something we’ll never achieve.) If you leave your thoughts in the comments section I’d love to discuss this further with you guys! Also, I’d like to read your reviews, so link them up as well!

Book Review: Hidden Universe Travel Guides

About the book

Title: Hidden Universe Travel Guides: The Complete Marvel Cosmos

Special: With Notes by the Guardians of the Galaxy
Author: Marc Sumerak

Genres: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Marvel

Published: October 25th, 2016

Read: January 2017

My Copy

Publisher: Insight Editions

Edition: Kindle

Purchase Location: NetGalley
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

My Rating:

Goodreads Summary

The ultimate guidebook to Earth, the Nine Realms, and other dimensions from Marvel Comics, as told by Peter Quill, Rocket, Groot, and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Ever since Super Heroes like Thor and the Guardians of the Galaxy started stomping around planet Earth, we’ve had to open our horizons a little and embrace the wider reaches of space. If you’re thinking of journeying to one of the many new realms for a little R’n’R, then don’t leave home without Hidden Universe’s guide to the cosmos. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the divine splendor of Asgard or soak up the multicultural atmosphere of intergalactic waypoint Knowhere, this is the book for you. It even provides some tips on surviving excursions to Planet Moord and Chitauri Prime, if you like your vacations to be on the extreme side.

My Review

Looking back at my reading updates on Goodreads, I would say it’s clear that I enjoyed this book. Thanks to a glitch in my app it seems like I’m overexcited on page 41. What better way to express your feelings, right?

But I actually really did enjoy reading this book. I like to read travel guides in my freetime anyway, and what better travel guide than one explaining the entire Galaxy? (At least how it exists in the Marvel world…) With really great artwork and a brilliant layout you can easily spot what you want to read, and get all the tips you need if you ever plan to visit Planet Moord, Halfworld, Ego or Knowhere (most of which I’d actually advise you not to visit…).

The description of the different planets and worlds didn’t bore me at all, but after a while I had to concentrate on not slipping away with my thoughts. Thankfully, there were the (comical) comments by the Guardians of the Galaxy team to lighten up the mood.

This can be a fun read which you definitely don’t have to read in one sitting and can leave and pick up again anytime you want. If you’re interested in the Marvel Cosmos, I recommend you to have a look at this fun travel guide. It might even help you explain some of the different power sources of our beloved superheroes and villains.

Spoiler Alert! Proceed with caution.

At one point in the book I spent five minutes singing “Dormammu, I’ve come to bargain”. If you read The Complete Marvel Cosmos and have seen Dr. Strange then you will probably too. (If you haven’t seen the movie then I demand you drop everything you’re doing right now and watch it!)

This is me staring at you until you watch the movie!

At another point Rocket used a rather colourful vocabulary to question the author’s thoughts behind putting a place like Cancerverse in a travel guide (my thoughts exactly when I read about that place. I definitely would NOT recommend you going there for a vacation..).

I was thrilled at the appearance and mentions of some superheroes that I knew, like Captain Marvel, the X-Men and Spiderman (described as one of Earth’s legendary superheroes!). And I really enjoyed reading more about the Kree’s background and their planet.

I'd like to know

First of all: Have you seen Dr. Strange?? ;) Second, what are your thoughts on this intergallactiv travel guide? Will you pick it up? Are you a Marvel fan, like me? And who is your favourite superhero by Marvel? (I know, stupid question because I can't even answer it myself.. Probably right at the top would be Spiderman and Captain America (Steve), but there are SO MANY I adore!

Book Review: Gemina

About the novel

Title: Gemina

Series: The Illuminae Files #2

Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Space, Action

Published: October 18th 2016

Read: January 2017

My Copy

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Cover: Paperback

Purchase Location: Gift from my Mom

My Rating:

Goodreads Summary

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed. The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault. Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion. When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands. But relax. They've totally got this. They hope. Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.

My Review

I can’t believe I waited this long to actually read Gemina. Okay, I just got the book after Christmas, but I could have ordered it online or got it from a bookstore… Anyways, I’m so glad that I finally managed to read it. After enjoying Illuminae so much, I was scared that I’d be disappointed by the second book in the series. But it was just as good!

I love the style Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff use to tell the stories. It’s so different to what I’m used to (there’s not really a narrator, but rather a collection of different chats, video commentary and other high-tech stuff). Also, this time around we get to see sketches from the protagonist’s diary which really lighten the story up a bit.

If you haven’t read Illuminae yet: Pick it up as soon as possible and I hope you’ll enjoy it! It’s definitely worth a try, and hang in there at the beginning. It might feel weird with this new writing style at first, but you’ll learn to appreciate and love it!

If you’ve read Illuminae already, but haven’t started Gemina yet: What are you waiting for? Go to the nearest bookstore and start reading! Don’t even wait until you’re home. Just sit down in front of the bookshelf in the store and start disappearing in the galaxy with Hanna and Nik!

Spoiler Alert! Proceed with caution.

I really liked the characters Hanna and Nik! At first I was a little disappointed not to be reading mostly about Kady anymore because I adored her personality, but these two new protagonists were just as exciting to learn about. (I might admit that I missed the strong presence of AIDAN a little too, although he/it still creeps me out.)

There are so many plot twists and turns, that I never saw coming, and one that I just anticipated throughout the whole story. It was so clear that those Lanima would come back to get in the way of our heroes. I even expected that there would be some kind of parallel universe that got mixed up and would save Nik’s live, although at the same time I had barely any hope left for him to actually survive the story (read on for my conspiracy theory against the authors…).

The last few pages of the book, though. PHEEEWWW. I’m still not over those! The authors played with my emotions: Ripped out my heart, broke it apart and then tried to miraculously stitch it back together (which worked pretty well, but I wasn’t over that shock for a few days straight). I really thought that all those people actually died and that Rapier / Jackson survived… (I already had all my conspiracy theories against Amie and Jay lined up because I thought they had some kind of guilty conscience because they let both of the heroes live in the first book and they wanted to shake things up a bit. I’m really glad that it was all just a secret plot against Biotech!

Other Reviews in the Illuminae Series:

Illuminae #1

I'd like to know

Have you read Illuminae or Gemina? What are your thoughts on the series and do you share my opinions on the story? Let me know in the comments! :)

Mini Book Reviews: Kindred Spirits, The Kill Order, The Last Star

Hey there! Today I decided it was time to sum up all the books I've read in the past few months, but haven't reviewed yet. Because some of them have been read quite a while ago and I don't have the best of memories, or I just don't want to talk too much about them because I didn't enjoy them quite as much as I'd have liked to, I'm starting a new kind of Book Review post. It's going to be a Mini Book Review series, where basically I just review a few books at a time in shorter versions.

Today I'm going to review the following three books: Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell, The Kill Order by James Dashner and The Last Star by Rick Yancey. The first two are quite recent reads and The Last Star I read rather further back in 2016. As always, if you click on the cover you'll get to the goodreads page.

  

Book Review: Illuminae

About the novel

Title: Illuminae

Series: The Illuminae Files #1

Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

Genres: Young Adult, Science-Fiction, Action, Space

Published: Release Date

Read: October 22nd 2015

My Rating: ★★★★

My Copy

Publisher: One World Publications

Cover: Paperback

Purchase Location: Kinokunyia, Singapore

Goodreads Summary

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again. Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Trilogy Tuesday #3: The Maze Runner

Trilogy Tuesday is a feature hosted here on my blog to talk about interesting book trilogies. Every now and then a Tuesday is dedicated to a trilogy series. Today's trilogy is:

The Maze Runner

  

ABOUT THE TRILOGY

The Maze Runner #1, The Scorch Trials #2 & The Death Cure #3
Author: James Dashner
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic
Published: October 6th 2009 (#1), October 12th 2010 (#2), October 11th 2011 (#3)
Read: 2015
Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★

My Copies

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Cover: Paperback
Purchase Location: Hugendubel, Germany

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? (GOODREADS SUMMARIES)

The Maze Runner Summary

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human. When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone. Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade. Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive. Everything is going to change. Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. Remember. Survive. Run.

Book Review: The Infinite Sea

Title: The Infinite Sea
Author: Rick Yancey
Series: The 5th Wave #2
Genres: YA, Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy
Published: September 16th 2014
Read: November 2015
Rating: 4.5 ★ 


My Copy

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Cover: Paperback
Purchase Location: Casa del Libro, Madrid

Goodreads summary: The hugely anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestselling The 5th Wave, hailed by Justin Cronin as “wildly entertaining.” For Cassie Sullivan and the rest of Earth’s remaining human survivors, the situation was already desperate when the 5th Wave hit. It’s about to get worse. No one yet knows the depths to which Earth’s conquerors—the Others—will sink in order to rid the Earth of the human infestation, nor have they guessed the heights to which the human spirit can reach. Characters introduced in Book One will come to the fore—and others will face the ultimate test. Readers will watch in awe as the Others give their answer to Cassie’s defiance.

Other books in the series

 

The 5th Wave (#1) (review) & The Last Star (#3) (WoW)

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My Review

After being so impressed by the first book I was kind of scared of the second installment in the trilogy. But all worries were for nothing because the second book was just as good! The book was filled with suspense (that nearly killed me at times, I mean I just have to know if my favourite characters are alive or not and yes Evan, I'm talking about you). A major plot twist toward the end, although it wasn't the only one in the book just one that I really didn't see coming. It changes the entire perspective of the story and I need answers Rick! You better answer all of them in The Last Star. 

If your world would get invaded by aliens how would you react? And especially after losing so many people you love, wouldn't you seek revenge? I can imagine that every little bit of revenge I could get I would go after, even if it wouldn't change a thing. Now imagine falling in love with the enemy. What must that feel like? Although there are a lot of controversies about this subject I totally ship Evan and Cassie together. Yes, it's another dystopian bad-guy good-girl relationship with a lot of drama, but come on. I'm a sucker for these things. 

What I really like about this book is that there are so many characters. And at the same time, this is the thing that I dislike the most. I don't dislike the characters per se, but all the different point of view. Rick managed to change the pov every time things got interesting. When I wanted to know how Cassie handled a situation it would change to Ringer's perspective and then again back to Evan when Ringer was in an interesting situation and on and on. Also, it took too long to change from one person to the other, which made the book a little breath-holding and I wish that we could have read more about what Cassie and the gang were doing in the end of the book (not that Ringer's story wasn't worth telling, just that you didn't know what was going on on the other side of the country - okay, maybe not the other side of the country seeing that America is so large, but my geographical memory of the story isn't that great). 

Now I really need some answers. What will happen to Ringer? What does this huge plot twist at the end of the book really mean? How will the relationship between Evan and Cassie end? Will the world go under? And last but not least: Who are the real villains?

Book Review: Champion

Title: Champion
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Legend #3
Genres: YA, Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Romance, Action
Published: November 5th, 2013
Read: February 2016
Rating: ★★★★ 


My Copy

Publisher: Penguin Books
Cover: Paperback
Purchase Location: The Works, London

Goodreads Summary: June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic - and each other - and now their country is on the brink of a new peaceful existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government's elite circles while Day has been assigned a high level military position.

Prequels: 

 

Legend (#1) (review) & Prodigy (#2) (review)

Book Review: Prodigy

Title: Prodigy
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Legend #2
Genres: YA, Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Romance
Published: January 29th, 2013
Read: February 2016
Rating: ★★★★ 


My Copy

Publisher: Penguin Books
Cover: Paperback
Purchase Location: The Works, London

Goodreads Summary: Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots - a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?

Other books in the series:

 

Legend (#1) (review) &  Champion (#3)

Trilogy Tuesday #2: The Infernal Devices

Trilogy Tuesday is a monthly event hosted here. Every last Tuesday of the month is dedicated to a trilogy series. This month's trilogy is:

The Infernal Devices

  

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About the Trilogy

Titles: Clockwork Angel (#1), Clockwork Prince (#2), Clockwork Princess (#3)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Infernal Devices

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Steampunk, Science Fiction, Romance, Supernatural, Angels

Published: August 31st, 2010 - December 6th, 2011 - September 5th, 2013

Read: 2014-2015

Rating: ★★★★★ - ★★★★ - ★★★★★

My Copies

Publisher: Walker Books

Cover: Paperback

Purchased: Hugendubel

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What's it about?

(Goodreads Summaries)

Clockwork Angel Summary: In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Timesbestselling Mortal Instruments series. The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...

Clockwork Prince Summary: In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends. With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them. Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, but her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do? As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Clockwork Princess Summary: A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray. Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever. As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army? Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

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My Review

I must say, I think this trilogy was even better than The Mortal Instruments series. Cassandra Clare catapulted us back in time and doing this so swiftly that you could imagine and relate to everything perfectly. You had the exact image in front of you that she wanted to create and the time difference only made the books so much more interesting. The story itself was riveting and you could not put the books down until you read all three of them - and then you just sat there, heartbroken that it was all over. (Well, except that it wasn't/isn't because Cassandra still continues to write these stories today so that you still get new reading material.) 

The story about the parabatai Will and Jem and their joint love for Tessa is so heartbreakingly beautiful like nothing you've ever read before. Their undying (literally) friendship and love just makes you want to jump into the book and witness the events with your own eyes. Will, the mysterious poetry loving young man who hides behind sarcasm and tries not to come to close to anybody because he believes that he might hurt them, is such a great character. And Jem, who is deadly sick, but still tries to enjoy life to the fullest, is the perfect match for Will and the only person who can 'control' him. Tessa stole both of their hearts and throughout the entire series you - the reader - can't decide who she should pick (and the really great part is, that she didn't have to pick - read The City of Heavenly Fire to understand this). 

The plot was action-packed from the beginning, full with betrayal, heartbreak and tears. But there were also nice chapters where everything was just right for the moment and you could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Tessa's life got turned upside down and she discovered a world where demons, downworlders and shadowhunters all tried to get a hold on her life (some to save her, some to destroy her and some to possess her). 

This is definitely a trilogy that's worth a lot of re-reads and I will probably do this sometime soon because writing about the Infernal Devices just made me miss it again.

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Why should you read The Infernal Devices?

I had read the Mortal Instruments books 1-5 before starting the Infernal Devices and that turned out really great because I understood a lot of jokes and references to today's setting of the shadowhunting world. Here are a few pointers that will convince you to continue with this series if you've already read a few of Cassandra Clare's books (If you haven't read The Mortal Instruments don't worry, The Infernal Devices are just as good without any knowledge of the shadowhunting world and the time setting is a century back, so you won't have missed out on anything important regarding the plot).

• A lot of puns and jokes from another Herondale
• Lightwood, Herondale & Fairchild ancestors
• Robo-fights and a lot of seraph blade swinging
• Love drama with no end in sight
• Another unbreakable parabatai bond
• Institute in old London
• Magnus
• Brother Zachariah 

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These themes are just suggestions. If you want to dedicate a post to another trilogy, please do so. Just don't forget to link back to this blog, so people'll know where this segment is originally from. Also, if you leave your link below, I'll definitely check out your post.

Upcoming Trilogy Tuesdays

March 29th: The Maze Runner

April 26th: Divergent

May 31st: The Hunger Games
June 28th: Unearthly

Book Review: Four

Title: Four
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: The Divergent
Genres: YA, Science-Fiction, Dystopia, Romance, Adventure, Short Stories
Published: July 8th, 2014
Read: December 2015
Rating: ★★★★★

My Copy

Publisher: Harper Collins
Cover: Paperback
Purchase Location: WHSmith, Liverpool

Goodreads Summary: Fans of the Divergent series by No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by Four: A Divergent Collection, a companion volume that includes four pre-Divergent stories told from Tobias Eaton’s point of view. DIVERGENT – a major motion picture in 2014. Readers first encountered Tobias Eaton as "Four" in Divergent. His voice is an integral part of Allegiant. Readers will find more of this charismatic character's backstory told from his own perspective in Four: A Divergent Collection. When read together, these long narrative pieces illuminate the defining moments in Tobias Eaton's life. The first three pieces in this volume – "The Transfer," "The Initiate," and "The Son" – follow Tobias's transfer from Abnegation to Dauntless, his Dauntless initiation, and the first clues that a foul plan is brewing in the leadership of two factions. The fourth story, "The Traitor," runs parallel with the events of Divergent, giving readers a glimpse into the decisions of loyalty – and love – that Tobias makes in the weeks after he meets Tris Prior. Exclusive scenes included!

Book Review: Legend

 

Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Legend #1
Genres: YA, Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Romance
Published: November 29, 2011
Read: January 2016
Rating: ★★★★★ 


My Copy

Publisher: Penguin Books
Cover: Paperback
Purchase Location: The Works, London

Goodreads summary: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as mailicous as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. 

Other books in the series

 

Trilogy Tuesday #1: The 100

  

I'd like to introduce you guys to a new monthly event (I guess a blogger would call this a meme?). Well, there are so many riveting trilogies out there and because I'm an absolute continuing stories lover I decided to create this label. Every last Tuesday of the month - like today - I'll be posting about a book trilogy. Careful: This segment is about the books only. If a book has been adapted into a TV series or a movie I might post something about that elsewhere, but here I will specifically only write about the book version. You guys are very welcome to join this meme. You can either pick the same trilogy as I did (I will always be posting the next post schedule at the bottom of the last post) or choose your own favourites. It would be great if you linked back to my blog. And now, without any further ado I present to you 

The Hundred Trilogy

Published March 18, 2014 ★★★★★

Goodreads Summary: No one has set foot on Earth in centuries until now. Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents, considered expendable by society, are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life... or it could be a suicide mission. Clarke was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. Wells, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves, but will she ever forgive him? Reckless Bellamy fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And Glass managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth. Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. [...] They may be mankind's last hope.

Published September 16, 2014 ★★★

Goodreads Summary: It's been 21 days since the hundred landed on Earth. They're the only humans to set foot on the planet in centuries... or so they thought. Facing an unknown enemy, Wells attempts to keep the group together. Clarke strikes out for Mount Weather, in search of other Colonists, while Bellamy is determined to rescue his sister, no matter the cost. And back on the ship, Glass faces an unthinkable choice between the love of her life and life itself. In this pulse-pounding sequel to Kass Morgan's The 100, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. And the hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can -- together.

Published February 26, 2015 ★★★★

Goodreads Summary: Weeks after crash-landing onto a rugged, nearly unpopulated planet Earth, the Hundred have managed to create a sense of order amidst their wild, chaotic surroundings. They work together to feed, shelter, and protect one another from countless dangers, including attacks by violent Earthborns. But their delicate balance comes crashing down with the arrival of new dropships from home--dropships carrying Glass and Luke, as well as the Vice Chancellor and his armed guards. Suddenly, Bellamy must flee transgressions he thought he had left behind in space, as Wells struggles to maintain his authority on Earth. And while Clark searches for clues about her parent's whereabouts, she finds herself torn between finding them and helping the injured new arrivals in camp. Lives hang in the balance, as the Colonists find themselves fighting not just attackers from the outside, but also enemies from within.

Being a huge fan of the TV series, I discovered these books after having watched the entire first season. Therefore, I had a total different view on what the books should contain. 

At first I was very suprised by the differences, but as I was reading chapter after chapter of The 100 I reallly started to enjoy the easy and fast paced storyline. The books are easy to be drawn in and not too dramatic, but still brought me to tears in different chapters.

The books have 4 different narratives focusing on the characters Clarke, Bellamy, Wells and Glass. While the first three of them go down to earth, Glass's story is still set up in spacec. The story follows their first few weeks on earth and a lot happens. They are taken by surprise by the earthborns because they didn't expect someone to have survived the cataclysm.

In my opinion the books don't explore enough the depth of these potential story lines as they could have. 

If you're a fan of the TV series be aware that the books are totally different, although most of the characters are the same. The setting and the pace have been changed and I believe Kass Morgan has done a lovely job telling the story of Clarke, Bellamy, Wells, Glass and the other characters in this trilogy. If you're a Bellarke (Bellamy/Clarke) fan as I am you should definitely read the books!

I'm a little disappointed that the covers have the pictures of the TV series' actors on them. I've never been a fan of books who bring out editions from the TV series or movies and specifically here they put a character on the cover who doesn't show up in any of the books (sorry Finn fans). 

Now it's your turn. I would be happy to read your comments about this book series. What are your thoughts? Have you read all of them or are they still on your TBR pile? Who's your favourite actor? And so on... 

Next scheduled post: Tuesday February 23, 2016 (The Infernal Devices)

Book Review: The 5th Wave

Published May 7, 2013 ★★★★★

Goodreads Summary: The Passage meets The Hunger Games in a gripping new series from Carnegie-shortlisted Rick Yancey. After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave. On a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, until Cassie meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan may be her only hope for rescuing her brother and even saving herself. Now she must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. Cassie Sullivan gets up. 

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey is a Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction novel. This book has made me think about our world a lot. What if we aren't the only ones in our universe? What if there are "other" living among us? A lot of questions that we can't answer, but we like to think about. And this dystopian novel showed us a world where we can answer some of these questions - although, I do prefer our world where we aren't being hunted down.