The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave, #1) by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

My Review:



This story blew me away immediately. It was intense, sad, proud, and defiant. To find ourselves as human beings faced with these impossible odds would be detrimental for humanity, as indicated in the book. However, to be utterly alone and hopeless and still choose to fight everyday and against all obstacles is downright heroic. Since reading this book I have been encouraged to live life to it's fullest and to try not to take things for granted (whether or not that was the message of this piece).

I enjoyed that this story had heartbreak, loneliness, hope and hopelessness, trust issues, a little romance - even if it's just to get lost in the body contact, determination, loyalty, shame, and self-sacrifice. It wasn't overly romantic and there wasn't any one particular hero, which could have caused the story to take some serious detours. The story flowed well, stayed on track, and the ending was written well enough that you could walk away completely satisfied, like I am, or you can continue on in the series to see just what these heroes are made of.

I feel like Rick Yancey nailed this story. He is a great writer and I will definitely recommend this book and will be reading another book by him, hopefully soon.

Favorite Quotes:

“Some things you can never leave behind. They don't belong to the past. They belong to you.”

“You can only call someone crazy if there’s someone else who’s normal. Like good and evil. If everything was good, then nothing would be good.”

“But if I'm it, the last of my kind, the last page of human history, like hell I'm going to let the story end this way. I may be the last one, but I am the one still standing. I am the one turning to face the faceless hunter in the woods on an abandoned highway. I am the one not running but facing. Because if I am the last one, then I am humanity. And if this is humanity's last war, then I am the battlefield.”

“We’re here, and then we’re gone, and it’s not about the time we’re here, but what we do with the time.”

“Cruelty isn't a personality trait. Cruelty is a habit.”

“There's an old saying about the truth setting you free. Don't buy it. Sometimes the truth slams the cell door shut and throws a thousand bolts.”

“Because we will die, but at least we will die unbroken.”

“I don't care what the stars say about how small we are. One, even the smallest, weakest, most insignificant one, matters.”

“It's like a cockroach working up a plan to defeat the shoe on its way down to crush it.”

“The minute we decide that one person doesn´t matter anymore, they´ve won.”

Read from May 13 to 27, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Young Adult, Science Fiction/Dystopia, Science Fiction, Science Fiction/Aliens, Apocalyptic/Post Apocalyptic

*According to Goodreads
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My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

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Finnikin of the Rock (Lumatere Chronicles, #1) by Melina Marchetta

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

2008 Printz Award Winner Melina Marchetta crafts an epic fantasy of ancient magic, exile, feudal intrigue, and romance that rivets from the very beginning.

Finnikin was only a child during the five days of the unspeakable, when the royal family of Lumatere were brutally murdered, and an imposter seized the throne. Now a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere’s walls, and those who escaped roam the surrounding lands as exiles, persecuted and despairing, dying by the thousands in fever camps. In a narrative crackling with the tension of an imminent storm, Finnikin, now on the cusp of manhood, is compelled to join forces with an arrogant and enigmatic young novice named Evanjalin, who claims that her dark dreams will lead the exiles to a surviving royal child and a way to pierce the cursed barrier and regain the land of Lumatere. But Evanjalin’s unpredictable behavior suggests that she is not what she seems—and the startling truth will test Finnikin’s faith not only in her, but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

My Review:

This was a decent read. I liked how it started out, it reminded me of an infant A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. There is battles between kingdoms, murder, indications of rape, sexual promiscuity, it's just not in detail. Which was fine. It is nice to take a break from all that detailed shenanigans.

At first, the sexual tension between Evanjalin and Finnikin was nice, then it got tiresome, then became sweet. Then, it got old and I just couldn't wait for the book to be over.



Evanjalin changed, she wasn't the same person she was when traveling with Finnikin. I can understand his confusion and partial resentment, especially since she wasn't as likable. Finnikin slightly changed at the end, and for the better, unlike his counterpart.

The supporting characters worked well as just that, supporting characters. They brought depth to the story of Finnikin in an agreeable way. I wouldn't get rid of single one of them, although, none of which actually stood out above another.

At the end, I was confused as to how there could possibly be another book in this series, especially when I wanted this one to end so badly.



Although I appreciated the ending, I doubt I will continue on in this series - it was too cumbersome without enough satisfaction. I'm sure there are many out there who enjoy this series, but I am not one of them.



Favorite Quotes:

“Somehow, even in the worst of times, the tiniest fragments of good survive. It was the grip in which one held those fragments that counted.”

“Be prepared for the worst, my love, for it lives next door to the best.”

“When one is silent, those around speak even more.”

“Never underestimate the value of knowing another's language. It can be far more powerful than swords and arrows.”

“There are worse things than a lie and there are better things than the truth!”

“Because without our language, we have lost ourselves. Who are we without our words?”

“Then I choose to drown. In hope. Rather than float into nothing.”

Read from May 04 to 22, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Adventure, Fantasy/High Fantasy
*According to Goodreads
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My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

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