Book Review: Wires and Nerves, Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: January 31, 2017
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
240 Pages

In her first graphic novel, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestseller Marissa Meyer follows Iko, the beloved android from the Lunar Chronicles, on a dangerous and romantic new adventure -- with a little help from Cinder and the Lunar team.

In her first graphic novel, bestselling author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new, action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold. When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity. With appearances by Cinder and the rest of the Rampion crew, this is a must-have for fans of the bestselling series.

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This was cute.

It's no secret that I love the Lunar Chronicles and this world the Meyer built. So of course, I hit that preorder button on Amazon faster than Usain Bolt crossing that finish line when this book popped up. I don't really know what I was expecting when I went in - most likely more adorable interactions with my faves - but what I got was Iko: Super Spy. And it was okay.
 

Wires and Nerves takes place after Winter with Lunar and Earth trying to come to a trustworthy alliance. Cinder is on the verge of abdicating her throne in favor of a more republic government but before she can do that, she must eradicate the rogue lunar soldiers still hiding out on Earth. With the Earthern people still wary of Lunars and unwilling to accept help, Cinder sends Iko to track down these packs and bring them back to Luna.

I really enjoyed getting to see everyone again and see how they are adapting to their new roles. And while we did get to see everyone, I was a little let down by the whole thing. First with Iko. Now I love Iko. Throughout the series she was always a constant source of humor, love, and bravery. And while I enjoyed reading a whole book from her point of view, I feel that she works better as a side character. It's not that she's not interesting, because she is. But I don't know if holding her own was the best thing.

The story itself was good but still felt a little lacking. I think this is because I'm so used to Meyer's descriptive writing and we didn't get that here since it was a graphic novel and I missed those little touches. Because of this parts of the story felt rushed and the characters played differently off of each other.

Lastly was the artwork itself. I wasn't too impressed. It felt a little childish considering the themes. With so much fan art out there, I think I got spoiled seeing other people's interpretations of the characters. And was I the only one a little creeped out by the Wolf and Scarlet drawings? I mean, I get that he's named Wolf for a reason, but I never pictured him that wolfish. It was just weird to me.

That being said, I'm sad we have to wait until next year to get the continuation. Because let's be honest, there's no way I'm not going to read anything Meyer puts out.

Book Review: Underwater by Marisa Reichardt

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: January 12, 2016
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
288 Pages

“Forgiving you will allow me to forgive myself.”

Morgan didn’t mean to do anything wrong that day. Actually, she meant to do something right. But her kind act inadvertently played a role in a deadly tragedy. In order to move on, Morgan must learn to forgive—first someone who did something that might be unforgivable, and then herself.

But Morgan can’t move on. She can’t even move beyond the front door of the apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels like she’s underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends. Unable to go to school.

When it seems Morgan can’t hold her breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door. Evan reminds her of the salty ocean air and the rush she used to get from swimming. He might be just what she needs to help her reconnect with the world outside.

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Why can’t I be happy to be alive instead of afraid of living.

 

Sadly, this is the world that we live in. Morgan lives in fear each day. Trapped in the prison of both her mind and her apartment, she can't even muscle up the courage to step outside. All because of that one faithful day. That one day at school where everything changed. A student came in with a gun.

We've all seen the stories on the news and one of the first things that rums through my mind is 'those poor people'. Well here, Reichardt gives us a glimpse of what happens after. How do people rebuild after their world is shattered? Can they rebuild? Can they survive?

This book was hard to read in some ways because there were a lot of times where I just wanted to shake Morgan. To wake her up from this stupor that she's been living in for months. But then I would pause and remember what she went through or the author would throw in another memory of that day that had me reassessing my opinion of her. Everyone deals in their own way. Morgan constantly saw how other people who were also there that day were able to move on and continue living, but she just couldn't. All because of one secret that she was holding onto. You know that old saying secrets kill? Well, this one was slowly killing her.
 

It turned out I wasn't dying on the outside. I was only dying on the inside, where nobody could see.

Luckily she had people in her corner who wanted to help. Her mother, brother, therapist, and the new boy next door. Her brother was the cutest thing in the world and all he wanted was for his sister to come see him in his school play. A little request that most would think nothing of, but to Morgan it gave her purpose but also crippling fear. I had little issues with the love interest, Evan. He was extremely pushy knowing her situation and would ignore her when things didn't go his way with her which I thought was extremely childish but he was a teenage boy so maybe that's normal?

The reason for the three stars was that this book moves extremely slow. At times it was a little boring and the only thing that kept me reading was to find out her secret. But aside from that, I think the mental state was well represented here. I went to an author signing with Reichardt and she talked a little about the research she did and how she spoke with therapists about the aftermath of this kind of trauma and that shows. So while it was a slow read, it wasn't a bad read.

Book Review: Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Publisher: MacMillian
369 Pages

he universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

--
The Little Android: A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.
Glitches: In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….
The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.
Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.
The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.
After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.
The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see a game called The Princess
The Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.
Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century...

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I feel like my love for Marissa Meyer just knows no bounds. She is one author where I could say that I would read literally anything that she writes. I mean, The Lunar Chronicles is on the top of my list of favorite series. And I, like most people, were sad to see it come to an end. Then Stars Above happened.

While most of the stories in Stars Above aren't new, that didn't tame my excitement for the book. In fact, I was super happy to have all of the short stories that take place in the Lunar world all in one book. Plus there were bonus stories that I hadn't read yet, especially one with the hint of a wedding! I could barely contain my excitement (in case you couldn't tell).

In this collection of short stories we see all of our old friends again, and we meet some new ones. Most short stories are just fun scenes that the author thought of and didn't fit in the original story, hence why they release them separately. What Meyer has put together here, with the exception of one of the stories, is tie up lose ends and answer questions that were lingering in everyone's mind after the conclusion of Winter. How did Cress end up in that satellite? How did Wolfe become, well, Wolfe? Who all was in on the hiding of Princess Selene? And what happens after the last book?

As I mentioned, there is one story that doesn't really have any base except that it takes place in the same world. That's The Little Android. While I liked it, it just didn't fit in with the rest of the book. It was the only story that didn't have any of the characters we previously knew and it was hard to get a sense of where it fit in the time table of events. Doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, cause I did, it just didn't really fit for me. 

All in all, super happy to get more of these characters and also get the closure they deserved. I cannot wait to see what Meyer thinks of next. 

 

Book Review: Broken Hearts, Fence, and Other Things to Mend (Broken Hearts & Revenge #1) by Katie Finn

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: May 13, 2014
Publisher: Square Fish
380 Pages

Gemma had her summer all planned out, but it takes sharp turn when she gets dumped and finds herself back in the Hamptons after a five-year absence. Being there puts her at risk of bumping into Hallie, her former best friend (that is, before Gemma ruined her life). But people don’t hold grudges forever. Do they?

Gemma intends to make amends, but a small case of mistaken identity causes the people she knew years ago—including Hallie and her dreamy brother Josh—to believe she’s someone else. As though the summer wasn’t complicated enough already.

Can Gemma keep up the charade? Or will she be found out by the very people she’s been hiding from?

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I don't know if this book was supposed to be as predictable as it was, but...

Source

I called everything. Even the "big twist" at the end. Now, this doesn't mean that I disliked the book because I didn't. It just means that either I have super sleuth powers when it comes to unearthing plots or the author wasn't as sly as she thought she was.

Gemma Hart is...well, she's kind of a horrible person and kind of dumb. When she was eleven, she was convinced that her parents separation was a passing thing and that by the end of summer they would be back to being one big happy family. Realizing this wasn't going to happen, she plots to to remove the one thing standing in her way: her fathers new girlfriend and her daughter. Now, five years later, Gemma is returning to the Hamptons to spend the summer with her father. She figures there's no way she'll run into Hallie (the daughter she hurt) and things even start looking up when she meets a cute boy on the train. But as fate would have it, the cute boy aka Josh is Hallie's older brother and she suddenly finds herself face to face with the friend she hurt. So what does she do? She lies. She pretends to be someone else. She figures that she'll get Hallie to like her again and then apologize, thus revealing who she really is.

Source

I honestly don't understand how a girl this old doesn't get how wrong this is. You're going to lie to someone to get them to like you only to reveal your lie and hope for the best? Nope. That's not how life works. On top of that, what she did to Hallie's mom in the past was something that even an eleven year old would know was wrong. And how she didn't get caught, I'll never know.

Now, I know that it seems like I didn't like the book. And I did. It wasn't amazing, but it kept me reading - even if it was just to find out if I was correct about my suspicions. But honestly, I was interested in what would happen with Josh. Gemma didn't really have any interactions with him back in the day but I was sure that he knew everything that happened and once he found out who she was, shit was going to hit the fan. I felt for Josh. He was dealing with a break up and was having trust issues, and along comes Gemma who he clicks with instantly but she's lying to him and it's a pretty big lie. I spent the whole book just waiting for this to blow up in her face. And there were a lot of near misses, let me tell you.

Aside from the my issues with the story, I really enjoyed Finn's writing. It felt like I was watching a high school drama series and I just couldn't look away. The book definitely ends on a cliff hanger that sets up the next installment and color me curious, I want to know what happens. And I believe T Swift said it best:

Source

ARC Review: My True Love Gave to Me Anthology

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: October 14, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
320 Pages

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME: TWELVE HOLIDAY STORIES by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins.

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Christmas is my favorite holiday, followed very closely by Halloween so to receive a book of winter-themed stories so close to Halloween is like everything I could've ever wished. I love the lights of the season, and snow, and the funnel cakes and sweet hot cider they serve at the zoo. I love getting presents, and giving them in return. I love kissing people under the mistletoe, and the smell of gingerbread. Basically, I love it for every commercialized, superficial reason in existence.

My True Love Gave to Me made me crave the winter sweetness that I love so much.

This book is filled with twelve stories written by some of the most talented authors in YA fiction today. While I didn't find all twelve pieces amazing, it was an overall magical anthology. Each tale was delightful in its own way. I was unsurprised that contributing authors that I loved before produced fantastic stories for this winter anthology. Of all the stories, I have to say that I enjoyed Stephanie Perkins, Rainbow Rowell, and Gayle Forman's most of all. I love their other works, so that I adored their stories in this book came as no surprise.

This is a quick read--maybe because I was immediately hooked from the very beginning. I could only put it down when my eyes started burning so badly that they watered and distorted my vision. It's a strangely wonderful feeling to be that in love with a book. My only complaint is that the stories ended! There were a few that I think had the makings of full-length novels, and the end of them had me yearning for more. Most were perfect just the way they were (and even then I wanted more just because they were so fantastic). I love the diversity in the stories; some were fantasy, others contemporary, all were utterly enchanting. I loved that I never knew which would come next, and that all of them were so unique, and distinct. No two were alike!

I need to go buy a physical copy immediately and reread this again as the holidays roll around (and probably a few times before then). They really help bring on the holiday spirit! I wish I could buy everyone a copy and make them read it, because it really is just a wonderful bunch of tales. I recommend it wholeheartedly, and hope that those who read it love it as much as I did! This exceeded my expectations, and reminded me why I love the holiday season so much! My True Love Gave to Me is sure to be an instant favorite for anyone who reads it.

P.S. Kudos to whoever designed the US edition's cover because from the moment I saw it, I knew I'd need to own it. I love that all the couples are included on the cover. That makes it even sweeter.

I received an e-copy of this novel for my honest opinion and review from the publisher via Netgalley.

ARC Review: Adrenaline Crush by Laurie Boyle Crompton

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
192 Pages

When a daredevil teen pushes herself too far, she must choose between two boys: the one who wants to keep her safe, and the one who dares her to return to her old self.

Seventeen-year-old Dyna comes from a family of risk takers and is an avid thrill-seeker herself, until the day she splinters her ankle in a terrible fall. Her whole life goes from mountain biking and rock climbing to sitting at home and attending group sessions at the bizarre alternative healing center that her hippie mother found. The boy who witnessed Dyna’s accident believes her injury is a wakeup call and he encourages her mild new lifestyle, but a young Afghanistan War veteran she meets at the healing center pushes her to start taking chances again. Forced to face the consequences of her daredevil impulses, Dyna finds herself in danger of risking the one thing she’s always treated with caution—her heart.

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Adrenaline Crush was a short, authentic story about staying true to yourself even when faced with the most difficult of challenges. This is the first book I've read by this author, and based on my experience, I would not be hesitant to pick up another. It was quite charming, and my interest never strayed from the story once I started it.

Dyna is an adventurous young woman who never backs down from a challenge. She has goals and plans and confidence, until a horrible fall that leaves her with an injury that may keep her from all that she loves to do. When her spirit declines, her parents send her to a new aging healing center and she meets people who are suffering through traumas much like herself. With the help of her new friends, and family, she must remember how to be the person she has always known herself to be.

I really liked the author's writing style. Once I picked it up, I read it to the very end. The book is pretty short, but it makes up for its length by being entertaining. I generally enjoyed the narrator's point-of-view, with just a few issues here and there. Adrenaline Crush isn't a heavy story. It does deal with some tough subjects, but ultimately, the focus is lighthearted in that it is really about a young girl coming into herself and taking pride in who she really is.

For being as short as the novel is (under two-hundred pages), it does deal with some serious issues like heartbreak, and war, and mental illness. I liked the way the author handles the subjects--it's easy to misconstrue these subjects, but the author seemed to really have a good grasp on the basic ideals. It's nice to read a story that deface human struggle, or make it seem like a completely negative thing. Reading about these characters facing their problems head on was interesting, and true to the nitty-gritty of real life. 

It was great to see how large of a part the story Dyna's family was. Stories with close families, or families that become close after an ordeal are more enjoyable to me. Familial relationships always seem to be downplayed, and that makes me sad. I adored the personalities of Dyna's parents. They are sweet, but have a bit of a wild, thrill-seeking side (that their children definitely inherited) which can be seen through their tattoos, motorcycles, and behaviors. The characters in this story were pretty assorted in that sense, and that was nice to see. I think it's sad that parents in fiction so rarely have diverse appearances because in this day and age it's quite common.

Is this the best book ever written? No. It definitely had it's faults. Dyna was not the easiest character to root for. She could be selfish, and sometimes it was a bit difficult for me to understand her perspective. Partially because I am not adventurous/outdoorsy/etc, but also because she was often too immature for my tastes. Her insecurities could drive me insane, as did her romantic relationships. This book is also quite predictable in regards to Dyna's love life. The "love triangle" and Dyna's final choice were obvious to me just from the summary. While I am satisfied with her choice, it would be nice for a more realistic romance. That being said, I am fond of Adrenaline Crush. It was a unique story with a familiar lesson. I think those who give this book a shot will find something in it they can appreciate!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

ARC Review: She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: April 22, 2014
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
354 Pages

Laureth Peak's father has taught her to look for recurring events, patterns, and numbers - a skill at which she's remarkably talented. 

Her secret: she is blind. 

But when her father goes missing, Laureth and her 7-year-old brother Benjamin are thrust into a mystery that takes them to New York City where surviving will take all her skill at spotting the amazing, shocking, and sometimes dangerous connections in a world full of darkness. 

She Is Not Invisible is an intricate puzzle of a novel that sheds a light on the delicate ties that bind people to each other.

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This is the first book that I've read by Sedgwick, and based on my experience, it will not be the last. She Is Not Invisible is a tale of familial bonds, strength, bravery, and coincidence. From the moment I heard about this unique story, I was determined to get my hands on a copy. Wendy, from The Midnight Garden, had been telling me to read something by this author for quite awhile and I'm ashamed that it took me so long to pick his work up!

From whatever viewpoint you look at, this story is imaginative. Laureth is a blind young adult, who is embarking on a huge adventure. Her father, once a renowned novelist, has disappeared. Sneaking away from her home in London with her little brother as her guide and companion, Laureth must use clues left behind, and brave New York to find her dad.

Some of the subjects that were brought up went over my head, but the intrigue of the plot kept me reading. The relationships between these family member also made this book that much better for me. Families in YA fiction are not generally shown as realistically as they are in this novel. Sure Laureth's family has their problems, but at the heart of it all, they have a deeply-rooted, unconditional love for one another. That is such a nice thing to see when so many recent books portray parents as dead/absent/abusive.

The plot is paced pretty slowly with quite a bit of build-up for the end. Though what the big mystery did not end exactly like I had expected, I still very much enjoyed this story. Laureth's point-of-view was mind-blowing. Her strength, as an individual struggling with a disability, astounded me. She does not want, nor need anyone's pity. She wants to be independent, and I sincerely admire that. The author does an excellent job of addressing the stigma of disability, and his character's struggle against is very well done.

She Is Not Invisible may have been my first book by this author, but trust me when I say, Sedgwick's other novels have become top priority on my to-read list! This book won't be for everyone, but I would still recommend giving it a shot. Unique, heartfelt and utterly captivating, She Is Not Invisible is a novel I won't soon forget, and is sure to leave its mark on readers.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.