Marvelous Reads
Two girls with a passion for books and reading.
zondag 24 januari 2016
zondag 10 januari 2016
Fangirl is a contemporary young adult novel written by Rainbow Rowell. The story follows Cath Avery, an eighteen year old girl who just started college. She's fan of Simon Snow, kind of like the Harry Potter books. With her twin-sister Wren, Cath writes fan fiction. Cath is famous on there, anonymously as Magicath. But now they're going to college and Wren is done with Simon Snow and decides to room with another person. Cath is very uncomfortable with these changes, but she'll get through it right? Or not? Not only does Cath meet incredible friends and maybe a possible boyfriend. She reconnects with Wren and everything seems to fall back in place. Read more
Happily ever after, or even just together ever after, is not cheesy. It's the noblest, like the most courageous thing two people can do.
zaterdag 2 januari 2016
My heart and other black holes by Jasmine Warga is a beautiful novel! The characters in this book were so incredible, I love them with all my heart.
“Life can seem awful and unfixable until the universe shifts a little and the observation point is altered, and then suddenly, everything seems more bearable.”
woensdag 7 oktober 2015
Touching Juliette trilogy by Tahereh Mafi
Touching Juliette trilogy by Tahereh Mafi
Book 1: Shatter Me
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Published by Harper Collins on October 15th 2011
Genres: YA dystopian, (science fiction, romance)
Pages: 338
Shatter me is a YA dystopian novel written by Tahereh Mafi. It's the
first book in the Touching Juliette trilogy. It follows a seventeen year old
girl named Juliette who cannot touch anyone. Her touch is lethal, which means
she can kill someone just by touching them. But all will change once her new
roommate arrives...
I have a curse
I have a gift
I am a monster
I'm more than human
My touch is lethal
My touch is power
I am their weapon
I will fight back
Juliette hasn’t touched
anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it
was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows
why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one
really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a
17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find,
birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said
their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now
so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The
Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured
soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right
now.
Juliette has to make a choice:
Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
Plot:
I was not expecting this plot at all. I mean, I just thought it would
be revolving around a girl who can't touch anyone and her journey on finding a
cure or something like that. It is somewhat like that, minus the cure, but wow!
Also, the ending! It just makes you want to read/continue the other books. At
least it did for me.
So Juliette Ferrars has been locked up in an asylum for 3 years. She
hasn't touched anyone in almost a year, but when a boy named Adam comes
stumbling into the asylum, everything will change for her.
First of all, she knew Adam from before her lockdown. And second of
all, she's been brought to Sector 45, which Warner leads. From that point on,
Juliette discovers more and more about herself. However Adam and Juliette
escaped Sector 45 in the end.
What I loved about this book was how the feelings of Juliette were
portrayed. How she was thinking one thing and said another. Many people are
like that, but Juliette kind of, sort of had a 'mental illness'? I don't really
know, but she was unstable in the beginning.
It was hard getting used to the writing style, but I did
eventually.
My friend recommended Shatter Me to me and she was raving about it! I
was hesitant at first, but decided to pick it up after a couple of months. I
regret not reading it earlier because HOLY CRAP. This was amazing! It exceeded
my expectations and I loved it so much.
The only problem I had with the book was the writing style, as stated above. I didn't get into it until the second book hence the 4.5.
The only problem I had with the book was the writing style, as stated above. I didn't get into it until the second book hence the 4.5.
Rating: 4.5/5
[SPOILER
ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST BOOK, THERE WILL MOST LIKELY BE SPOILERS
SO BEWARE.]
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Published by Harper Collins on February 5th 2013
Genres: YA dystopian, (romance)
Pages: 461
Unravel Me is the sequel to Shatter Me written by Tahereh Mafi.
tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.
time for war.
Juliette has escaped to
Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also
the headquarters of the rebel resistance.
She's finally free from The
Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love
Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.
Or from Warner, who wants
Juliette more than she ever thought possible.
In this exhilarating sequel
to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she
wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing
between her heart—and Adam's life.
Plot:
Unlike many other trilogies where the first book is always the best, I
found the sequel better than the first.
I began to like Juliette more and more and Adam began to annoy me more
and more.
Although the first days/weeks, she was hardly communicating with the
people at Omega Point, towards the end she began to talk to them more often.
She made a couple of friends/acquaintances: Brendan, Winston, Lily, the girl
whose name I forgot but started with an A (Alia?), Castle,... . She was closed
off and only seemed to want to talk to Adam, which was not often seeing that
they weren't allowed in each other's rooms etc. . And suddenly, Warner appears
too.
Juliette learned a whole lot more about her powers in Omega Point. She
felt more at ease once she knew there were more people like her.
Juliette and the rest also prepare for the biggest war of her life, but nothing goes as it is planned…
Juliette and the rest also prepare for the biggest war of her life, but nothing goes as it is planned…
In 'Unravel Me' you learn a whole lot more about the characters. More
specific Warner, Adam, Juliette and Kenji; the main characters. You also
discover something very shocking, which I'm not going to reveal.
Rating: 5/5
[SPOILER
ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOK, THERE WILL MOST LIKELY
BE SPOILERS SO BEWARE.]
Book 3: Ignite Me
Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Published by Harper Collins on February 4th 2014
Genres: YA dystopian, (romance)
Pages: 421
Ignite me is the third and final instalment of the Touching Juliette
trilogy.
When Juliette awoke after being shot by Anderson, her mission was to
take down Anderson for once and for good. What she didn't know yet was that
Omega Point has been destroyed. And who knows her friends too? Determined to
destroy Anderson and the Reestablishment, Juliette is preparing herself for the
fight.
With Omega Point destroyed,
Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But
that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for
all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one
person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life.
He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . .
but that’s not all he wants with her.
I read this in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. It was
12AM when I actually finished it and I was fangirling (internally) so hard that
I felt like I could burst out of happiness any moment. Seriously, I could have,
and probably would've if I didn't have to be so quiet, cried of happiness
because of the ending. My heart is fluttering just by thinking of it.
Ignite me is by far my favorite of the trilogy. It’s one of my all-time
favorites, in fact. IT IS SO GOOD.
Plot:
Juliette awoke after Anderson shot her. Thanks to Warner and the twins
she's still alive. When she heard the news that Omega Point has been destroyed,
she had to know if her friends were still alive. And luckily they were.
They trained and trained and trained to prepare themselves to fight
against Anderson, his army and the Reestablishment.
Juliette learned to control her powers. She can touch people now, without them dying.
Juliette learned to control her powers. She can touch people now, without them dying.
With the help of her team and the men of Sector 45, she is planning on getting
revenge against Anderson.
I loved Juliette in Ignite Me. She was headstrong and was getting what
she desired the most, revenge on Anderson. And at the same time she was also
worried about her friends being alive or not. So much is going through her head
and you wonder how she can still manage to stay calm.
Rating: 5/5 (all the stars)
Characters:
Juliette:
In the beginning I found Juliette's behavior kind of immature, yet I
can understand why she reacted the way she did. I mean, after being locked up
for so many years, you would probably react the same way as she did. Other than
that I found her a great character! I'd say she's my second or third favorite
character in this series. As the story progressed, Juliette began to be more
mature and headstrong. At first, Juliette needed someone very desperately. And
when she could touch someone without the other person suffering she was beyond
ecstatic. However, throughout the trilogy, she became more independent and the
other person didn't like that. I did though .
I found her the best in Ignite
Me. She was confident, which she always would've been had she not been put into
that asylum or had she not been judged by other people (in my opinion), she was
passionate. She was out for revenge. And revenge she got.
Warner:
He's psychotic leader of Sector 45, but to me (and maybe some
others :-)) he was the LOVING, psychotic leader of Sector 45.
I get that some people hate him (in the beginning!!!!) because he's doing these 'terrible' things to Juliette. However, when you get to know him you will understand his reasons et cetera. His dad is a monster. His mother is sick and doesn't remember him.
Aaron Warner Anderson is definitely someone who'll be forever imprinted in my mind.
I get that some people hate him (in the beginning!!!!) because he's doing these 'terrible' things to Juliette. However, when you get to know him you will understand his reasons et cetera. His dad is a monster. His mother is sick and doesn't remember him.
Aaron Warner Anderson is definitely someone who'll be forever imprinted in my mind.
And also: GOD DAMNIT, JULIETTE AND WARNER. Warner and Juliette have
officially outranked every OTP that is existent in my brain. Words can't even
explain how much I love these two lovebirds. The Juliette and Warner scenes
were definitely my favorites.
Kenji:
My favorite character! I love Kenji (for some unknown reason his
name autocorrected to Jennifer)! He brings happiness into the sad lives of everyone.
Without him it would be so depressing. His and Juliette's friendship is so
valuable. He's so witty yet funny at the same time and that is something I
appreciate a lot. He was serious when he needed to be.
Adam:
I do NOT know why, but from the start on, I absolutely did not
like Adam. He was so annoying to me? I suppose that is partly Sara's fault for
telling me Adam's annoying, hehe. I even thought he was going to turn against
them at some point, but that luckily never happened. He was not my least
favorite, but definitely not my favorite. He's somewhere in between. Adam was
very attached to past-Juliette, the Juliette who needed someone so desperately.
And when Juliette 'changed' (for the better), he was not very happy to say the
least. I did find it heartwarming to read about James and him. He's protective
about his cute, little brother, which is normal. I also hope that Adam will
eventually find happiness. Maybe with Alia? (I FORGOT HER NAME. I KNOW IT
STARTS WITH AN A. FORGIVE ME.)
"Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as people can remember them."
Labels:
AN,
Dystopia,
review,
romance,
science fiction,
series,
Tahereh Mafi,
trilogy,
ya,
young adult
Locatie:
Western Europe
woensdag 30 september 2015
Top 7 Young Adult Series/Trilogies
Hello guys,
today we decided to do something different. Our top 7 young adult
series/trilogies! The list is composed of both Sara [▲] and I (An [✧]), so our favorites have been mixed together and put
on this list. Hope you enjoy!
Question of the Blogpost: 'What is your favorite series/trilogy?'
Question of the Blogpost: 'What is your favorite series/trilogy?'
▲ I was
looking for a great YA dystopian novel, and after a long time, I found The
Testing. The Testing is a really amazing trilogy and I read it when it came
out. I had to wait so long for the other two books, but it was worth my time. I
was completely in love with the trilogy and Cia (the main character) has become
one of my favorite YA female characters. I recommend the Testing to everyone
who loves a dystopian novel and is a fan of The Hunger Games or Divergent.
To read the full review, Click here
▲ It's been
a while since I've read this trilogy so maybe I should reread it when I have time for it. I loved the first two books so much, especially Divergent. I remember
that this book was my Christmas present.
The characters in this book were so incredible, I love them with all my heart. Like is said before, I loved the first two books, but I was a little bit disappointed of the last one, Allegiant. I liked it but I didn't love it. I think it's because I expected more of it. Besides that I recommend this trilogy to everyone who is, just like me, crazy about YA dystopia.
The characters in this book were so incredible, I love them with all my heart. Like is said before, I loved the first two books, but I was a little bit disappointed of the last one, Allegiant. I liked it but I didn't love it. I think it's because I expected more of it. Besides that I recommend this trilogy to everyone who is, just like me, crazy about YA dystopia.
✧ I love this series! I stumbled upon
this when I was at the library looking for something to read for school. When I
first started reading it, I did not know it was part of a series and it was in
fact the third book. After reading Seeking Crystal, I was in desperate need of
more so I went to the inter webs and found out that there were two more
installments that take place before SC. Being the person I am, I could not wait
another day to go to the store/order it, hence why I bought the e-books. I read
Finding Sky and Stealing Phoenix in 2 days. I even stayed up until 4 AM once
because I wanted to know what happened next! The plot intrigued me immensely! And
as a person who’s a sucker for sappy romances, soulmates are definitely my type
of guilty pleasures.
I have yet to read Misty Falls and the newest book that is coming out soon (I think).
This series has brought back my love for books that I lost the year before. Honestly, I love it so much and I was so obsessed with everything and everyone. Zed, Yves, Xavier, Sky, Phoenix and Crystal are very dear to my heart. They take up a special place and hopefully I'll read Misty Falls soon so that I can fangirl about those characters too.
I have yet to read Misty Falls and the newest book that is coming out soon (I think).
This series has brought back my love for books that I lost the year before. Honestly, I love it so much and I was so obsessed with everything and everyone. Zed, Yves, Xavier, Sky, Phoenix and Crystal are very dear to my heart. They take up a special place and hopefully I'll read Misty Falls soon so that I can fangirl about those characters too.
✧ The Hunger Games trilogy ahh. The
emotions are coming back. I remember crying, laughing and every emotion in
between. I first read the Hunger Games in 2012, during the festive time of the year. I
remember crying because of Rue's dead *sheds tear*. Anyways, everyone has probably already read this series. HECK, maybe you've
even reread it a couple times so you all can share my love for this series (or
not). And if you haven't read them, HOW?! I really recommend you to read them.
I adore the first two books, the Hunger Games and Catching Fire, but I didn't love Mockingjay as much. I love the empowering Katniss Everdeen, as I love all the other characters.
Yes, I love everything about this series and yes, you should too.
I adore the first two books, the Hunger Games and Catching Fire, but I didn't love Mockingjay as much. I love the empowering Katniss Everdeen, as I love all the other characters.
Yes, I love everything about this series and yes, you should too.
▲ How could
the Mortal Instruments by the great Cassandra Clare not be on our list? I was really obsessed with these books. When I read the first one, I went to
the store for the second one and then the third and so on. I went to the book
store every 2 days until I was done reading the series. Unfortunately I had to
wait for the last book like a year or maybe more, but when I went to the store
to buy the last one with one of my
friends, who was also obsessed with The Mortal Instruments, we were freaking
out. Like: OH MY GOD FINALLY! My friend even screamed.
If you haven't read this series yet, you should go to the book store and buy the 6 fantastic books. This is an order :p.
If you haven't read this series yet, you should go to the book store and buy the 6 fantastic books. This is an order :p.
✧ I have just recently read this
trilogy and I absolutely love it! After reading contemporary after contemporary
I decided it was time for a dystopian novel. Sara actually recommended it to me
and I was hesitant at first but damn! It is SO good. If you didn't like the
first book, read the second! I assure you that it'll get better. I read them
fairly quickly because it was one of those books that you just couldn't put
down (in my opinion). Especially the last one *faints*.
The writing style was a bit strange at first and I had to get used to it. Some people might not like the writing style at all, but luckily I got to appreciate it.
Also, I was not expecting the plot at all! I thought that it might be about Juliette who is trying to find a cure or something, but it was definitely not.
I got easily attached to the characters, but mostly Juliette, Kenji and Warner.
The writing style was a bit strange at first and I had to get used to it. Some people might not like the writing style at all, but luckily I got to appreciate it.
Also, I was not expecting the plot at all! I thought that it might be about Juliette who is trying to find a cure or something, but it was definitely not.
I got easily attached to the characters, but mostly Juliette, Kenji and Warner.
AND FINALLY.
DRUM ROLL.
✧ Three words. Best series ever. I
grew up with this series and I'm sure many of you did too. Anyone who's read
this can confirm that The Harry Potter series are one of the greatest, if not
the best, series of all time. The way J. K. Rowling brought us to a whole new
world of wizards and magic is just amazing. She allowed us to escape of planet
earth and reside in Hogwarts for the time being. My favorite 2 books of the
series are 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' and 'Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallows'. If you have not yet read this series or even watched the
films) then what are you doing?! Go pick up the books at your local libraries,
read them and love them just like millions of others in this world we live in,
and then we can discuss them. Harry, Hermione and Ron will always have a
special place in my heart. Especially as a Gryffindor.
Locatie:
Western Europe
donderdag 24 september 2015
The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Published: April 24th 2012 by Harper Teen
Genres: Ya Dystopia Romance
Pages: 336
The
selection is a dystopia romance written by Kiera Cass.
Summary:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The
opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be
swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live
in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
The
selection is a fun read. It's one of the books you can read in one
day. The selection definitely made me smile a lot, although I was
really irritated at the same time (mostly because of the
love-triangle in this book). When I read the Selection, I thought a
lot that this is just 'the Hunger Games' glossed over to a fairy-tale
story, (a group of 35 girls competing for the heart of a guy is like
24 tributes who are fighting to death in an arena) but luckily it did
not bothered me. Probably because I love 'the Hunger Games' and I
like to read a similar story.
Characters:
The main character is America Singer, one of the lucky girls who is
selected for the selection. I loved and hated her, she's a nice and
caring girl, but sometimes so so irritating. She hesitated like all
the time. It looks like I say often that I love and hate the main
character, but you have to know that that's not always the case.
There are a lot of books where I don't found the main character
irritating. Back to America. Well, I liked that she was a fighter.
She wanted people to know (especially rich people) how it was to live
in one of the lowest social classes, and how hard they had to work
for a little wage. America stood up for herself and her family and
that is why I love her. The other characters in this book were fine,
especially prince Maxon. He is a little bit shy, which is cute, and I
really liked him. But my favorite character in the whole series was
Celeste, yes I know that's weird because she's like the bad guy in
the series. I just really liked her.
I
have read the whole trilogy and I found the first book the best one.
I also liked the second one named: The Elite, although I was really
irritated most of the time because America's behavior was really
stupid in this book. The last book named: The One was better than the
second one. There was also more action than in the other two books,
which I really like.
I
recommend 'The Selection' to people who are patient and like a
dystopia romance.
All
by all I give this book 3,5 stars.
“It's
always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome.”
Labels:
Dystopia,
Kiera Cass,
review,
romance,
SARA,
The Selection,
ya
Locatie:
Western Europe
dinsdag 8 september 2015
The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
Genres: Speculative Fiction, Dystopia, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Summary:
“Keep your friends close and
your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is
too close when they may be one and the same?”
The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a
charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s
chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group,
candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a
college education and a rewarding career.
Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing
candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and
future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her
departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her
upcoming studies--trust no one.
But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome
childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care
more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day
of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or
life without trust.
- The Hunger Games meets Divergent in this
astringent novel. It's not that The Testing was a wannabe Hunger
Games book, totally not. The Testing completely distinguishes itself
from that. I loved/enjoyed reading The Testing, which is the first
book of a great trilogy.
I can never get enough of this genre. I completely
get lost in dystopian novels. Like I said before: I really love this
genre, but they're most likely not all too good for my liking (maybe
this is because dystopian is an incredibly difficult genre to
write). But let me tell you this: The Testing is one of the good
books. It's a book with a lot of action and of course a love story.
How can their not be a love story? Luckily there wasn't a love
triangle, because I hate love triangles. The Testing was actually a
realistic story (except for the last test, but the plot of the
story: being chosen as a Testing candidate to prove your worthiness
as a University student is actually something that could happen.)
Characters: I normally find the main characters in
dystopian novels, sometimes, annoying and bitchy. Thankfully that
wasn't the case here. I loved the narrator, Cia. Cia is a kind and
caring person, but she knows how to survive and takes care of
herself. She never does something without thinking it through. Cia
is not a girly character, probably because she grew up with four
brothers. You see how she grew and became stronger during the story.
And after every page I loved her more and more. Cia has absolutely
become one of my favorite YA female characters. In the story you
also get to know Tomas really well. Tomas is the main love interest
and he grew up with her in Five Lakes Colony. They weren't really
close when they were little, but they became very close after Cia
told him about her father's warnings. I liked Tomas, he cared for
Cia and made sure nothing happened to her, although he also has a
dark side. (Everybody has, in this story.) I loved Joelle's
characters. They were genuine and I got attached to them really
quick. She has a wonderful writing style and I just love this
trilogy.
The Testing is a book that you can not put down. So
do not read it when you want to go to bed the next hour. If you're
looking for a great and beautiful YA dystopian novel, look no
further: The Testing awaits.
All by all I give this book 5 stars.
“Things don't always work out the way we hope. You just have to pick yourself up and find a new direction to go in.”
Labels:
Dystopia,
Joelle Charbonneau,
review,
SARA,
Speculative Fiction,
The Testing,
young adult
Locatie:
Western Europe
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