My Bookish Review: Shatter Me

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi 

Published: 2nd October 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 338
Format: Paperback

No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon. But Juliette has plans of her own. After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

I have a list of favourite authors. Currently on that list are writers like L.J Smith, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Richelle Mead and Cynthia Hand - Tahereh Mafi is now also on this list. 

Look at the cover. It's so pretty. I can't get over how beautiful it is. It would've been impossible for me to spot Shatter Me in a bookstore and not pick it up. I could sit and fangirl over the cover itself. I had really high hopes for this book when I picked it up. 

Tahereh Mafi is a beautiful writer. I understood everything she had written and whilst reading the book, there were certain parts I just had to reread over and over again - I still do. For instance, the beginning of Chapter 11. It was written in such a unique way and everything was described so well - you'll see when you read it yourself. There aren't that many authors out there who can write like she does.

Julietter Ferrars is a 17-year-old girl. I get really annoyed nowadays because almost every YA book I read has the main character as a 16-year-old. I know, it's a really childish thing, but I can't help myself, it's like one of my pet peeves. Can't the she be a 15, or a year or two older? So you can imagine by happiness at finding out that she's 17. Juliette seemed really lost and empty in the beginning, but as a reader I loved seeing her transform into someone more confident.

For those of you out there who haven't read this book yet: what are you still doing? Go! Buy it! Shatter Me is a book you stay up late reading - I did. And you won't regret it, either.

5/5 stars - Books like this one make me love the dystopian genre even more. 

Quote:

“I'm oxygen and he's dying to breathe.”

Amazon | Amazon UK | Goodreads | Author's Website

Teaser Tuesday (1)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

It's my first Teaser Tuesday! YAY!

These week I'm sharing some teasers from Zed's Story which is a short story written by Joss Stirling, as part of the Benedicts series. I've read it and a review'll be up soon.

But for all those fans put there who want to read it, here a few teasers:

"Then the teacher started talking to the girl at his side, a gorgeous little blonde that Zed knew he had not seen around the school before. He wouldn't have missed a sweetheart like her." Page 15, Zed's Story by Joss Stirling, manuscript.

 "Keeping watch over Sky turned out to be a fascinating excercise. She bobbed up around Wrickenridge like Alice wandering through Wonderland." Page 23, Zed's Story by Joss Stirling, manuscript.

Zed's Story is being released Valentines Day 2013 as a free download.

So what did you think of the quotes? Is Zed of your favourites? Drop me a comment or leave a link to your own 'Teaser Tuesday'. I'll appreciate it. 

The Teen Reader
:)

Book Haul (#4)

Hi guys!

First of all - sorry. I haven't been blogging much recently. I only posted a blog post like, once last week. Sorry. You know how in last week's Book Haul I was complaining about my lack of revision? Well, I was trying to get some actual revision done.

But on a brighter note, I'm starting this week with a book haul! Yay! 

Haven't got that many books this week, but here they are:

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (Borrowed)
My school library doesn't have that many YA books. Which is weird. However, I managed to find this, so I borrowed it. Tah dah!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (eBook)

Hey - this is the one being turned into a film! Two of my friends have recommended it to me now. They're both avid readers (you know who you are). So I decided to give it a go. I'm reading it right now and I can assure you - I am in love.

Zed's Story by Joss Stirling (WON!)

YAAAY!!!! WOOOOOOO!!! I won this over at Joss Stirling's website. It arrived today and I was so happy! It's a short story from Zed's perspective and fans of Stirling's previous works will not be disappointed. I'll be posting up a review soon because I finished it today as well.

That's it for now. I can assure you that I'll be posting more blog posts. When I manage to finish my exams I'll be blogging nonstop and annoying everyone - be prepared.

So how did your Book Haul go?

The Teen Reader

:)

My Bookish Review: Legend

Legend by Marie Lu 

Published: 29th November 2011
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Pages, Format: 305, Hardback
Series: Legend #1

Los Angeles, California,

Republic of America

He is Day,

The boy who walks in the light.

She is June,

The girl who seeks her brother's killer.

On the run and undercover, they meet by chance.

Irresistibly drawn together, neither knows the other's past.

But Day murdered June's brother.

And she has sworn to avenge his death...

June Iparis is an over-achiever, confident and daring. Why shouldn't she be? She's the only person known to the Republic to have gained a full score on her Trial, the test taken at the age of ten which determines your skills, and therefore your future. Managing to gain admission into one of the top universities - at the age of only fifteen - has made her one of the most admired. June knows her future is successful.

Day, on the other hand, failed his Trial, and is currently quite high on the list of the Republic's most wanted. He comes from a low class family and has been surviving, on the run, for five years. 

I like June. She's someone who's used to getting what she wants, and when she doesn't, she goes out and gets it herself. Including revenge for her brother's death. I also like Day. He's someone who's willing to do anything to support his family, even if it means having them believe he's dead.

The book is split into two parts, despite the fact that's it's barely 300 pages. When I was reading it I was really surprised by it's small size. So much happens in Legend that I couldn't stop wondering how Marie Lu managed to cram so much in. I don't even think 'cram' is the right word. I never felt as if the book was too fast paced or too slow. 

The dramatic irony in this book was killing me. When Day and June first meet, the reader is aware of who both of them are, but the characters themselves aren't. I think all the dramatic irony was made possible because of the switching character perspectives. Normally I absolutely hate it when an author does that. Why?! Why can't they just stick to one person? Why do they have the make it so confusing? Only a few books are the exception... this book is one of them.

Lu writes with emotion. I felt that I could easily sympathize with all of her characters. Her writing was really convincing and not boring. If that helps. 

In the end, I did enjoy the book. I liked it. Really liked it. The only reason I'm giving it a 4 instead of a 5, is because it didn't fully amaze me. It wasn't something that lingered on my mind. I still really like it, though.

4/5 stars - Really like it. Go read. :)

Quote:

“What a joke! Poor little rich girl's fallen in love with the Republic's most famous criminal.” 

Amazon | Amazon UK | Goodreads | Author's Website

Book Haul (#3)

It's the end of the Christmas holidays. Sad face.

I was meant to spend the majority of my holidays revising for some very important exams, but the temptation to read and tweet was just too strong. So now if I fail my Chemistry, at least I'll know why. 

I've gone quite dystopian this week because I read Divergent and found it was amazing so decided to give the dystopian genre a chance.

Anyways, here is my 'Book Haul' for the week:

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (Borrowed)

On the last day, before we broke up for the holidays, my friend was like 'Hey, I have this book in my bag that I've already read. Want to borrow it?' So I was all 'Okay!'. I've already read it, but I'm debating whether to review it or not because it was released like, in 2007.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (Bought)

This cover is just asdfghjkl; I can't even. I didn't really want to buy it because it was in hardcover, but then when I saw the paperback version, I just had to have it.  So I bought it off Amazon. Read it and the review's coming soon.

Legend by Marie Lu (Bought)

My friend recommended this to me. First book she's ever recommended, so figured it must be good. Review'll be up soon. :)

Happy Ever After by Adele Geras (Bought)

Just don't ask. This book was published in 2005, and I only bought it because my older sister was like 'Ooooh! Please buy it!! It'll be reeeeeeeeeally good!' I had my doubts though. I was kind of pressured into buying it, because if I didn't my sister would be annoyed at me for who knows how long. I still have my doubts.

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini (Gift)

I've already read this, but it wasn't my own copy. So one of my friends decided to buy it for me because she's just that amazing.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (Bought)

YAAAAAAAAYY!! Been hearing so much about this book. Been given a lot of promises. Better be good. Or else.

So that's it for now, guys. How were your holidays? What books have you gotten recently? Don't forget to write a comment - I'll appreciate it. 

Thanks!

The Teen Reader

:)

My Bookish Review: Meant To Be

Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill

Published: 13th November 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages, Format: 304, eBook

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question. 

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

Sometimes you just want to read something completely paranormal-free. Something that has nothing to do with dystopian societies or forbidden love. Something you just want to read and feel good about; something you can just enjoy. 

If you're looking for a book like that, then I suggest you pick this up.

Julia Lichtenstein is a straight-laced, book-smart, neat-freak sophomore girl in high school. Her aim in life is so find a perfect, successful career whilst married to The One... a.k.a her MTB - 'Meant To Be'. Her whole life she's believed that her crush, Mark Bixford is her MTB. She leaves with her school for an educational trip to London - the city she's dreamed of visiting her whole life. So everything should go according to plan, and this trip should be one of the most memorable experiences of her life. Thing is, it would be if she weren't paired with the most annoying, self-centered practical joker of the class, Jason. 

In case you didn't know, I live in London. I've never been to America, so it was really nice to read about a familiar place - it was really fun seeing it from an outsider's perspective. Allow me to quote Julia herself, "Screw Paris; London is the city for me." So you know, once I saw the Big Ben in the background of the cover, I promised myself I'd read it. It's not often you get American characters in London.

Julia is someone I can kind of relate to myself. I'm not as extreme about everything as she is, but I could understand her actions and reasons really well. Including her annoyance towards Jason. In the beginning, she really annoyed me. I wanted to slap him around the face with a wet fish. Yet, the more I read and the more I got to know the Julia and Jason, the more I believed they were perfect for each other. What did annoy me was the amount of time it took for Julia to figure this out.

I think Meant To Be was a good read. It was easily enjoyable and I have to admit it had a plot twist I didn't see coming. Like I said earlier, if you're looking for a light-hearted book, read this.

3/5 stars - It was enjoyable, but not particularly memorable. Still liked it though. :)

Quote:

"I'm plenty loose. There's a difference between preferring books to parties and preferring sixteen cats to seeing the light of day."

Amazon | Amazon UK | Goodreads | Author's Website 

My Bookish Review: Insurgent

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Published: 1st May 2012
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
Pages, Format: 525, Paperback
Series: Divergent #2

I have done bad things. I can't take them back, and they are part of who I am.

Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever... because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.

Veronica Roth is a genius; I now have another favourite author.

Insurgent starts straight off from where Divergent finished. I can't say that it has a specific location, because the book was so fast paced, with numerous environments, unlike the first in the series, Divergent. In normal circumstances, this would've majorly turned me off a book, but Roth's writing never made me feel rushed - even if it did, it tied in perfectly with the dystopian genre.

One of the things that I love most about this series is Tris' character. It's developed so much - anyone who's read the books can tell. At the beginning of Divergent, Tris - sorry - Beatrice seemed so lonely and brainwashed. It was so fun reading from  her perspective in Insurgent, mainly because she was so unpredictable. Still is. It's protagonists like her that are evidence of YA at its best.

Then comes Tobias. Sigh. This is another of my hormone-crazed moments. One thing I picked up on while reading this was that we kind of get the impression (well, I do anyway) that Tobias is more 'into' Tris than she is with him. That thought was just continuously nagging at me. Yet, when I thought about it more, it was kind of a relief. In all honesty, the majority of books I read are filled with female main character's being completely head-over-heels for a guy who doesn't even know they exist. We're not that desperate. However, I am pleased to reveal to any reader out there who feels like this as well, that it's not going to last. I'm not going to say anymore because I hate giving out spoilers.

When I finished this, I was entirely amazed. There was only one thought on my mind, and I thought it over and over: Veronica Roth is so clever. The plot she's created hasn't failed to leave me wonderstruck. I didn't really see it coming. The end result was basically me having a breakdown.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go cry in some lonely corner of my house - in the dark - and mourn the fact that the next book is being released in September 2013. Such a long wait.

You can read my review for Divergent, the previous book, here.

5/5 stars - YA at its best.

Quote:

"People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets."

Amazon | Amazon UK | Goodreads | Author's Website