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Cinder by Marissa Meyer - Book Review (Spoilers... maybe)

This novel takes place in New Beijing. It is a futuristic novel; we know this, because of the mention of technology like netscreens, androids, and cyborgs. The main character in the novel is named Cinder. Cinder is a 17 or 18 year old girl. She is cyborg. Cinder hates herself because of her "monstrosities" that is her arm and leg. When she was little, her parents were killed in a hover crash. She survived, but barely. Scientists operated on her and she was reborn. Not many people in the Eastern Commonwealth like cyborgs. Her stepmother, Adri, hates them. She especially doesn't like Cinder; she blames Cinder for the death of her husband and everything else that is bad. Her stepsister Pearl doesn't like her either. The only people that like her are Peony (her other stepsister) and Iko (Adri's android). The story is about her adventure when she meets the prince and her discovery of who she really is.

I knew I would love the story... but I didn't know how much. I feel like I need to actually buy the book so I can read it over and over. It provided me with a new look at science-fiction... one of the genres that I have a hard time getting into. But it also had that sort of fantasy twist - which I didn't expect. Overall, I absolutely loved it. The characters weren't that deep, but since I found out that it is in a series, I'll expect the characters to blossom and grow. The plot and setting were the most magnificent in this book. Marissa Meyer really thought about this book and gave it something new that the YA section needed.

Now... for the negative side of this review. The only thing I didn't enjoy was how predictable it became towards the end. I know that happens a lot with YA fiction, since there is so much of it... but come on! There could have been something a little more exciting than the ending I got. Also, I hated how it left off. I wasn't expecting a series from this author. I truly wanted a one time go with Cinder. I didn't expect to have to wait until the next one comes out. The depth of the book was pretty ... shallow? I don't know if it's just me, but sometimes YA books don't have that much DEPTH. I wanted a little more than just the same old gushy, gushy romance. I have to keep in mind though that this is a retelling of Cinderella.

Since I have mentioned that is a retelling of Cinderella, what are my thoughts on that? I'm really not a fan of Cinderella, since Disney made it seem so... happy. But in high school I read a short story of the actual fairy tale of Cinderella - you know, the more darker side of Cinderella. And I enjoyed it. I want Cinderella to be this independent woman who doesn't just stop and drop her life for prince charming. Cinder wasn't really like that, she didn't give in to Kai like the rest of the girls in the Eastern Commonwealth did... but she still couldn't help falling for him because of his "smile."

I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. It was good! I'm a little irritated that I have to wait for the second one... but oh well, I can be patient.

March Book Haul (Library & Used)

March Book Haul: Fantasy & Dystopia

Hope you guys are having a  great weekend. This weekend is going to be busy but hopefully I will be able to put in some reading.

The books I plan to read in March:
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

Books that I bought used:
Massive by Julia Bell
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Halo by Alexandra Adorentto
Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris

I have 49 subscribers on youtube! One more until I hit 50... I believe I shall have a special giveaway. Stay tuned for reviews please. Hopefully I'll get them up this month.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare - Book Review

I don't need to go over the summary of this book, do I? I mean, this book has been on the list of favorites for a long time. It's been on my shelf for a while. I kept meaning to get to it, but there were always other books that had me more interested.

My thoughts and feelings on this book? It's simple. I enjoyed the book. However, I realized that through the middle of the book that it had become very predictable. I figured out everything before it happened. Sometimes I applaud myself for figuring out what happens in books, but for some reason, in this particular one, it frustrated me. It seemed to be TOO predictable.

That's the only negative thing I have to say about City of Bones. I enjoyed the book immensely. The characters seemed solid to me, except for a few exceptions, like Jocelyn and Valentine since they weren't really in the book, just tossed around a lot. The plot intrigued me. I love a world full of fantastical creatures, and Clare created just that.

I gave it four stars out of five. I cannot wait for the next one and the one after that. I'm a little behind,  but I'll catch up soon enough.

Thanks!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins - Book Review

The title of the book basically sums of the plot. Yes, there's Lola and then there's that boy next door. The cover says it all: romance! I adored this book. Young adult romance can't get better than this. The characters are my favorite, of course. Lola and Cricket are the main characters. Cricket is the boy next door that Lola has always crushed on. Cricket is a genius stuffed into a tall box. He's handsome and he dresses well, which means a lot to Lola. They go through a lot together. Being friends first and finally coming to terms that they like each other.

The one thing I liked best about this book is that young girls (and boys) can really relate to it. I remember falling for certain boys and already having a boy. Young love is complicated and Stephanie Perkins clearly showed that in her latest novel. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves reading about young people finding themselves and finding love.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson - Book Review

(Taken from the insert) "Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one. But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can't see how she ever will. Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king - a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess. And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior, and he looks at her in way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake. Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young. Most of the chosen do."

When I first started this book, I wasn't looking for anything amazing. The cover was pretty enough, and I had never read anything by the author, so I was surprised when I fell in love with this book. The plot, setting, and characters really intrigued me. I first liked Elisa when I learned of her weight - a problem I have been facing most of my teenage life. I grew close to Elisa when I also found out that she used food to comfort herself.

What I found most interesting in the book was the plot. Elisa is the bearer of the Godstone. Once a century a child is chosen during the naming and a stone is placed in their navel. The ideas that Rae Carson put into this book are amazing! I love how she put God into her book, and I still enjoyed it. I am not an extreme in religion, but I do believe in God. This book was something different compared to other YA fiction. Carson placed God in the book, but it didn't become overpowering with religion nor becoming completely boring.

The setting of The Girl of Fire and Thorns is also compelling. Set somewhere in the desert and mountains, the setting is a big theme in the book. First Elisa lives on the coast in Orovalle. It is different then the deserted Brisadulce. The cities are very different in culture also. Elisa tells us the differences in the cities and comes to appreciate both, making the reader do so also.

I loved the characters! Of course, my favorite was Elisa. Here is this young girl who has known no love in her life, her mother died when she was born and her father has been distant all of her life. Her sister, Alodia, has been rude to her. Or so she thinks. Her and her sister are very different. Her sister is athletic and personable, whereas Elisa is fragile and childlike. Through the book, though, Elisa comes to understand that even though they are different, they are still sisters.

Alejandro is the king of Brisadulce, also known as Elisa's husband. They spend little time together and when they do, it's talking about the war. I grew to dislike Alejandro because of Elisa. But he is a complicated man. His first wife died and left him a son, and then he gained a mistress, Condesa Arina. He married Elisa because he had to.

Cosme and Humberto come next. They are brother and sister. Desert raised, they lost their parents to the Inviernos, the enemies. Cosme is hard-headed where as her brother is gentle and caring. Elisa learns to respect Cosme though. I really loved both of these characters for their determination and hope.

The entire book was a masterpiece! Carson brought something to the table that I hadn't read before. The Godstone, the Lengua Classica, Homer's Afflatus, is something that really intrigued me, as I've said before. I give this book five stars! It's definitely worth checking out. It will not make you bored, believe me.

I Apologize

I understand that I haven't been round for a while, and it's probably only going to get worse. I doubt anyone reads these blogs, but whatever. They're mostly for me, anyway! I have been reading like crazy these days, but not reviewing any books. I write down reviews but I never make a video for them. I've noticed that people love book hauls more than book reviews. I feel that way also. I do want to do book reviews but I have to polish the way I review a book. I've been thinking of changing the way my channel is.

They're just ideas, nothing solid. I was thinking about changing it starting next year, but realized that after January 21st, I'll be in school. That's right! I'm going to college. Nothing major... just prereqs. Then off to nursing school. I was thinking about hauling around 5-7 books a month and reviewing them that month and then doing a sort of wrap up of each month. Every month would have its own theme. Like, for instance, a genre or a particular author.

I'm just talking away! I really do want to get this channel up and going! I feel the need to make it better, but laziness sneaks its way in. I want to thank all the people who have subscribed and watched my videos. It means so much to me! I will definitely have something special for when I reach 50 subscribers. I'm at 31 now! I would never have believed that people would want to watch my videos... so thank you! :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's! Wait... I forgot Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble, gobble.

(Sorry, I'm not saying "Happy Holidays". I celebrate Christmas, if you don't, then sorry. But the majority of America celebrates Christmas... uh-oh. Religious and political views getting in the way! :p)