Tag: YA book

Updates

Illuminae Files

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Illuminae Files

IMG_1824I don’t often get around to reading any kind of sci-fi at all, so when I saw that everyone was absolutely scrambling to pick up Obsidio earlier this year when it came out it definitely piqued my interest in the series. I believe from what I’ve heard is that the Illuminae Files which includes Illuminae, Gemina and Obsidio is a sci-fi/fantasy YA series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff that is set in space. What has also caught my attention about this series is that it’s written in a unique format that includes emails, pictures and memos etc. When I picked it up in store and leafed through it I was quite captivated! I don’t know if I’ve ever read anything like this at all. I am super excited for something a bit different, I feel that lately all I’ve been getting into is fantasy so something new and different is quite refreshing.

Happy Reading📚

Reviews

Scarlett Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on Scarlett Review

*Spoilers Ahead*

13206760This book was super fast paced, very action packed and it was a great continuation of the storyline.

This book picks up straight after Cinder finishes. We are first introduced to Scarlett Benoit who is on a mission to find her grandmother who has gone missing two weeks earlier. In doing so she comes across a street fighter Wolf who has information on her grandmothers whereabouts. She certainly doesn’t trust him at the start, but there is something about him that draws her to him. As Scarlett gradually works out the mystery behind her grandmother’s disappearance she unravels the mysterious circumstances surrounding her family history and a secret her grandmother has kept from her all her life.

I liked the introduction of Scarlett into the storyline. I thought she brought forth a new fresh perspective to the novel and I was intrigued as to how she was going to fit into the narrative. I thought she was very well developed. She is single-minded, tough and outspoken and I enjoyed her tenacity. Wolf I couldn’t really make heads or tails of him at the start of the book, I again didn’t really know how he fit into the story and whether or not he was necessary as a character (boy was I wrong). Their relationship felt a little forced for me at the start, but it does develop more throughout the story and I appreciate it more after everything that occurs in the Opera and how he rejects his loyalties to save her. There were so many twists and turns and the mystery element of who these characters are and how they fit into Cinder’s backstory really compelled me to read on. I liked Thorne I thought he brought lightheartedness to the storyline where it was starting to get a bit dark and somber. I thought he balances out Cinder’s seriousness well and I enjoyed their banter as they made their escape and fled into the atmosphere. I find Cinder coming into her powers more and grappling with her kind of disgust with them very relatable. She doesn’t want to become like the Queen and mindlessly control the masses she wants to control her powers and maintain her integrity.

As I read on through this series I have found that each book fits together like a puzzle and each plot point and character is another piece sliding into place, it’s very satisfying to read. We are given a lot more information in this book than the first and the world was really expanded and backstories were delved into a bit deeper. We’re starting to get a grasp on Cinder’s life and how that correlates back to Queen Leveanna.

I did enjoy myself whilst reading this book, I thought it propelled the story along nicely and I am eager to continue on in the series and see what happens next.

⭐️4/5 stars highly enjoyed picking up Cress ASAP!

Updates

Lunar Chronicles

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Lunar Chronicles

IMG_1717Yay, I am going to be continuing on in the Lunar Chronicles over the next few weeks. I read Cinder last week and absolutely LOVED it! So I am hyped to move right along through to Scarlett, Cress and Winter. Again the premise of these books are really interesting a sci-fi/fantasy retelling of classic fairytale stories is so original and compelling in my opinion. Cinder is an amazing character and Kai is in such a dilemma as the new Emperor and I really can not wait to see where Marissa takes these stories next and of course I will be getting back to you with full in depth reviews. If its a first book in the series or a stand alone I really kind of try to do non-spoiler reviews but for the rest of the books in a series I do like to go a bit more in depth with the reviews and go in to storylines, and sub-plots and character arcs and really give my overall opinion on the series. So if you don’t want to be spoiled maybe give these reviews a miss, totally up to you!

Happy Reading📚

Updates

Renegades

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Renegades

IMG_1715Look what I finally have my hands on! I have been eyeing off Renegades for sooo long now. Especially over these last couple of months since everyone has been raving about this book! I’ve heard this is comparable to X-Men being that they are humans with extraordinary abilities with a lot of action thrown in the mix. The premise behind this is exciting and I love a good fantasy/dystopian world with humans with super powers having to overcome some kind of obstacle! That trope really calls to me for some reason and I always seem to love every story that kind of revolves around that style. I have a lot of expectations attached to this book and I believe that the sequel is coming out I think at the end of this year really gives me a reason to sit down and read Renegades and see if all the hype surrounding this book is worth it. I haven’t read anything like this in a while and I am excited to give it a read and see what I think about it. I will definitely be getting back to you with a review in a few days!

Happy Reading📚

Reviews

Cinder Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Cinder Review

*Non Spoiler Review*

Why didn’t I read this sooner?

36381037I loved it from start to finish. There was action, heartbreak, cringiness, and revelations. I honestly didn’t know what to expect and I am pleasantly surprised!

This book follows Cinder who is a cyborg and the best mechanic in all of New Beijing. She has built a reputation around her name so much so that Price Kai has shown up at her booth requiring her services to fix his broken android before the annual ball. She has all intention of fixing his android and returning it to him but all her plans are derailed as her younger sister is infected by the deadly plague that has been devastating Earth for the last decade.

Cinder is just wonderful. I like the fact that she was so real and you could sort of relate to her in a way, being different from the rest of her ‘family’ and seen as a freak and non-human and having to deal with that on a daily basis. I love how we watch her try to overcome her insecurities about being a cyborg and just being comfortable in her own skin. The gradual strength that Cinder emits over the course of the book was great to read. Kai was hopelessly oblivious to the fact that Cinder is a cyborg and I loved him for that. He didn’t see her as anything other than who she is and that really shone through in their burgeoning romance.

I just want to say that as soon as we kind of got into the sub-plot about Lunar and the royal family I started to get inclinations. Especially after Cinders trip to the royal laboratories. It really kept me on the edge of my seat and it was gratifying to have my theories proven right in the end (which usually never happens).

As this was a retelling of the classic Cinderella fairytale I enjoyed the comparisons in the two storylines, but I feel that Cinder really branched itself out enough where it can stand apart and was refreshing. The sci-fi elements really brought forth a different aspect to the book that I’m certainly not used to and it made it more interesting and kept me intrigued throughout the book.

The dialogue was easy to comprehend and quite witty but there was a lot of underlying and indirect action taking place along the way. The storyline was a little bit predictable but I will absolutely look past that as this book was just an engrossing, engaging read and I will be definitely picking up Scarlett in the very near future and continuing on in this series!

⭐️4/5 stars! Unexpected!