Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Title: The fifth wave
Author: Rick Yancey
Published May 7th 2013 by Putnam Juvenile
Goodreads / Amazon
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Definitely a rollercoaster ride. Not unpleasant but not particularly comfortable. It lasted longer than I probably would have wanted it too, but once it got me going, I couldn't complain that much.

While I did read the whole thing, I must confess it took me quite a long time. Even though it was good, and things were happening lighting fast and nothing was ever dull; somehow I found my concentration slipping away. There were moments when I was completely hooked and then at the next second I’d be enthralled with Undercover Boss instead (but to be fair, that show always gets to me). And since I’m a nerd and I don’t know how to express my emotions, I’ll draw a graph:

 

See where I’m coming from? It was literally a roller-coaster, some highs some lows, the usual. I hated to be dissapointed though, because I wanted to love this book but guess I’m not cut for this kind of reads.

Although Cassie’s love for his baby brother Sammy, Ben Parish’s fear of losing his mind, Evan Walker’s struggle to stay loyal to what he’s supposed to be and to what he’s always known, Sammy’s fight against a world where he isn’t allowed to be a kid anymore, even if he is five years old; everything felt pretty darn real to me. Each story tugged at my heartstrings and I really became these guys’ own personal cheerleader.

That’s why I’m confused as to why I’m not in love with this story. I think it’s because things felt a little too roboty for me, as in everyone was this ultra-fast-strong-cold-minded terminator despite being super young. I’ve never been in a situation anywhere near as the one these kids are in (armaggedon and all that) but I suspect you don’t exactly become ruthless and an expert in combat and a killing machine instantly, at least I don’t think I would. I have a feeling I’ll be the same clumsy, clueless girl I am now (and that’s probably why I won’t survive).

So yeah I skipped a few pages of fighting and bombing and shooting and killing and when straight to the heart-felt moments of emotional turmoil, where to me, the real heart of this story is, because the prose was beautiful and I loved quite a few quotes, while some other parts didn’t really make much sense to me and I didn’t completely agree with some of the choices of words but that’s just a personal complain, and y’all have to read it and see if you’re buged too :)

 

 

 

Waiting On Wednesday: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)

 

 

 

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

 

 

 

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.  

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.   

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

 

 

 

 

I'm actually torn about this one. I kind of want to know what happens next because I liked the world building and some characters (Chaol <3) but Celaena was kind of annoying and vain and I didn't agree with some of her attitudes but overall, I am trying to be positive and let's see how it turns out :)

Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To
Author: Katie McGarry
Expected publication: May 28th 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Goodreads / Amazon
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From my previous experience with Katie McGarry's debut I swore for sure that I wouldn't get near her second book. But then people started to get all up in my grill about how good it was and that I just HAD TO read. Well, I gave it a try.

Turns out they were partially right. The book didn't blow me away but it definitely left a better impression than its younger bro. Dare You To was just as action-packed as Pushing The Limits but it got less on my nerves. The characters were more relatable (at least Ryan) and in some level I could at least stand Beth. Katie has a way of making her main characters an over the top hot mess but this time Beth I was partially able to swallow her because she's a girl, and she wants what all of us wants, a good guy to fall for her.

I am not saying she welcomed Ryan with open arms, in fact she kept pushing him away to the point I would have slapped her to get some sense in her fake raven-colored head. Ryan went through a lot to get her to trust him but at the end she did trust him, and she learned that not everything was supposed to go wrong in her life.

The big plus this book has is the adorable Ryan Stone. Ryan is absolutely precious; the perfect southern gentlemen, driven and focused. He stands for what is right and he sees past the exterior (hello, hardcore punk named Beth). I love how he has the perfect amount of innocence but is not naive. I loved all his has perfect boy qualities and was instantly wooed. He was hands down the biggest highlight of the book.

So yeah, nowhere near the disappointment I was expecting, and all the baseball talk made it even more fun to me, so if you want to try this one then by all means do so, great read! (:

Waiting On Wednesday: The Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford

The Boy on the Bridge
 by Natalie Standiford

A new breathtaking novel from Natalie Standiford about love and trust during the Cold War.

Laura Reid goes to Leningrad for a semester abroad as Cold War paranoia is peaking in 1982. She meets a young Russian artist named Alexei and soon, with Alexei as her guide, Laura immerses herself in the real Russia--a crazy world of wild parties, black-market books and music, and smuggled letters to dissidents. She must keep the relationship secret; associating with Americans is dangerous for Alexei, and if caught, Laura could be sent home and Alexei put under surveillance or worse. At the same time, she's been warned that Soviets often latch onto Americans in hopes of marrying them and thus escaping to the United States. But she knows Alexei loves her. Right?

As June approaches--when Laura must return to the United States--Alexei asks Laura to marry him. She's only nineteen and doesn't think she's ready to settle down. But what if Alexei is the love of her life? How can she leave him behind? If she has a chance to change his life, to rescue him from misery, shouldn't she take it?

ADD ON GOODREADS


Historical fiction has always had an important place in my heart, I love it. Now add star-crossed lovers during the cold war and I'm in.

Also, now that I, myself, am going to be an Exchange student this summer(!) I am more amazed than ever about the cultural shock and the way less fortunate people in the world live, it's not good to live in a bubble, you know? Let's get educated :)