Red Queen (Red Queen, #1) by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

This is a world divided by blood - red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance - Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart...

My Review:

I liked this book right away, although I was leery at first. Immediately Mare, the heroine, was with her guy friend, whom I could tell was "friend-zoned". Then I was leery about Cal right off, because I hate love-triangles in general. Anyways, this story had a love-(insert multi-dimensional-shape-that-applies-but-I-am-unaware-of-because-Geometry-wasn't-a-strong-subject-of-mine here). That being said, I was able to live with the romance.

I feel that Victoria Aveyard created an interesting world, characters you could get behind or loath, and a suspenseful journey. Not only did I care what happened to Mare and her family, but I cared about what was happening to the world around her. I became more vested that I originally planned to be.

As for Mare, I liked her immediately. I wavered a little bit towards the beginning, but as she became more familiar, I understood things more clearly from her point of view. I can't go into too much more detail about her situation or support characters without giving something away, and I definitely want you to be as impressed as I was at the right moments.

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan strong but flawed heroines, and don't let the love-shape daunt you!

Favorite Quotes:

“I see a world on the edge of a blade. Without balance, it will fall.”

“If you know someone's fear, you know them.”

“There's nothing wrong with being different.”

“You should know the difference between secrets and lies.”

“What I need and what I want are two very different things.”

“The truth is what I make it. I could set this world on fire and call it rain.”

“Anyone can betray anyone.”

Read from November 05 to 13, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction/Dystopia, Romance, Fantasy/Magic
*According to Goodreads
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★★★★★ - I absolutely loved it
★★★★ - Good book and would recommend
★★★ - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
★★ - Not good, but was able to finish it
★ - 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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Oddly Normal Vol. 2 by Otis Frampton

Oddly Normal Vol. 2 by Otis Frampton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Oddly Normal's adventures in the fantastic world of Fignation continue!

Collects ODDLY NORMAL #6-10.

In Volume 2, Oddly Normal's adventure in Fignation continues with new friends, new mysteries and new revelations about her missing parents.

Collecting Oddly Normal #6-10.

My Review:

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Graphics are still amazing! Case in point ↓



Story was lacking. This volume was used more to fill the reader in on everyone's background. No real plot growth occurred, unless Otis Frampton plans on having a big reveal in the next volume. My only concern, is that the reader will be too bored to move forward with the story line.

I will read the next in the series if it becomes available to me for the great price of free, otherwise, I won't lose sleep for letting this one go. Oddly Normal Vol. 1 was just so good that I had higher expectations.

Read on November 04, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Fantasy, Sequential Arts/Graphic Novels, Fiction, Sequential Art, Sequential Arts/Comics
*According to Goodreads
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★★★★★ - I absolutely loved it
★★★★ - Good book and would recommend
★★★ - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
★★ - Not good, but was able to finish it
★ - 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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Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1) by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.

My Review:

I was drawn to this story because the synopsis intrigued me. The main character, Artemis Fowl, was young enough that I could follow his many adventures/misadventures as he grew up. However, after finishing this book, I think his age works against him.

Artemis is described as a genius, criminal, mastermind, hero? What I saw was a spoiled, selfish, rude, wealthy child. Yes his family has money, and he descends from a long line of criminal behavior, and he is obviously clever, but nothing seemed to make sense. This story line might have worked with a late teen but a 12 year old? My mind had a hard time wrapping around this concept.

The only redeeming part to this story was the magical side (as this story was told from two sides of the spectrum). Those characters were funny and enjoyable. The only character from Aretmis' side of the story that I remotely had an interest in was Butler. I did also have a hard time imagining a man-servant would be at a child's beck and call, and do the things he did with no questions asked.

I will read the next in the series, only because I already have it checked out from the library, but I'm hoping Eoin Colfer: turns things around - for my sake, as I really want/ed to enjoy this series.

Read from November 01 to 12, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure
*According to Goodreads
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★★★★★ - I absolutely loved it
★★★★ - Good book and would recommend
★★★ - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
★★ - Not good, but was able to finish it
★ - 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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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship--the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

My Review:

This story was very poetic, had a great moral, and touched on some rather sensitive subjects. I think this was a lovely coming-of-age story that all youth should read. They will learn about being true to oneself, that things will get better, confusion or not understanding yourself is common, about respect, tolerance, and love.

At first I thought Ari was too hard on himself, but as I got to know his character, I realized he was just learning about himself. As the story progressed, he changed and grew into a stronger person, mentally and physically. It was like watching a flower bloom.

Dante was always so straight forward. He was quirky and funny, and very sure of himself. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and it made him a stronger person for it. I liked him, and his relationship with all the supporting characters.

The relationship between Ari and Dante was very natural, and just right off seemed to work. I felt the relationship went through some rough waters, much like any friendship, in a very believable way. It was beautiful to behold.

My only concern was some of the dialog. Sometimes it felt forced. The best way to describe this is to compare it to 2 Broke Girls. Their dialog seems written and preplanned rather then going with the flow, which makes this show tough to watch, and in turn made this story sometimes a little difficult to get through.

All in all, I think Benjamin Alire Saenz did a great job capturing the late 1980's "Tex-Mex" scene, and the then faux-pas issue of homosexuality. If you've ever considered reading this, please do, I doubt you'll regret it.

Favorite Quotes:

“I didn't understand how you could live in a mean world and not have any of that meanness rub off on you. How could a guy live without meanness?”

“Words were different when they lived inside of you.”

“It was good to laugh. I wanted to laugh and laugh and laugh until I laughed myself into becoming someone else.”

“I got to thinking that poems were like people. Some people you got right off the bat. Some people you just didn't get--and never would get.”

“Smiles are like that. They come and go.”

“Words could be like food - they felt like something in your mouth. They tasted like something.”

“We all fight our own private wars.”

“One of the secrets of the universe was that our instincts were sometimes stronger than our minds.”

“I don't always have to understand the people I love.”

“Scars. A sign that you had been hurt. A sign that you had healed.”

Read from November 02 to 04, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, GLBT, Contemporary, Romance
*According to Goodreads
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★★★★★ - I absolutely loved it
★★★★ - Good book and would recommend
★★★ - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
★★ - Not good, but was able to finish it
★ - 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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