The Midnight Star by Marie Lu

Review:

 

Is being Queen worth losing everything and everyone you ever loved?

 

Adelina supposedly now has everything she wanted. She is Queen and she's as ruthless and as cruel as ever. Even though she is now queen, she can never have enough power. Her darkness feeds on the power and it's taking over. Adelina has lost so much, but now it seems the whole world is at risk. Her Rose Society must join with the Daggers and make an unforgettable journey to the realm of the gods. If they can't work together, there is no hope.

This was an amazing series and Marie Lu is an impressive and talented writer. I also loved the Legend series. Adelina's journey is heartbreaking and difficult, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1663419/the-midnight-star-by-marie-lu

The Rose Society by Marie Lu

Review:

If you haven't read The Young Elites, this review may contain spoilers related to the original story.

 

 

How can you be good when everything within you is dragging you into darkness??

 

After losing Enzo and being rejected by the Dagger Society, Adelina is on a path of vengeance and violence. Her powers are fueled by hate and fear, and they're growing beyond her ability to control. She has found a new group of Elites, but she has difficulty trusting them, and she is constantly doubting who she is and questioning her own decisions. She is now known as the White Wolf, a symbol of power, violence, and death.

 

This book is even better than the first. As the reader watches Adelina's descent into darkness, we feel for her and in a way even understand the decisions she makes. She has spent most of her life living in fear; who can blame her for wanting to feel powerful and safe. This doesn't take away from the horror of her actions; she is no hero.The real question is, will Adelina ever find happiness or even recognize it if she does.

 

A great addition to the trilogy. On to book 3: The Midnight Star

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1663410/the-rose-society-by-marie-lu

The walls began to pulsate more quickly, and that was when Tom knew there was something behind him. Something dark, malevolent, and voracious, watching him intently.

p.179

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Alice by Christina Henry

Review:

 

"One day, long ago, she'd gone seeking an adventure and found terror instead. That day had changed the course of her life, and left her hands awash in blood. It was not her fault, but this was how it must be. She understood that now."

 

Poor, trusting Alice. She went with her best friend on a supposed adventure and ended up in an insane asylum. She doesn't remember what happened, only before and after. Before, she was a sweet innocent girl who lived in the New City, and after, she was found wandering the streets of the Old City with bood on her thighs muttering about a rabbit. Now, she has the chance to escape the asylum with Hatcher (who was living on the other side of the wall for 8 years) and she is about to embark on an even stranger adventure, dark, bloody, and frankly a bit disturbing.

 

This is not the Alice you remember from the Disney movie, some of the characters are here: Alice, Cheshire, the Rabbit, the Caterpillar, but they are not as you remember them. This book is full of violence, human trafficking and rape. Women are treated as objects at best and as sex toys or killing toys at worst. Sections of the Old City are owned by ruthless gang lords, and women are never safe there. But, this is also a story of justice and revenge. Believe me when I say Alice & her friend Hatcher (from the asylum) are no slackers when it comes to giving people what they deserve.

 

So, should you read it? Well, if you like dark, creepy, retellings which are more horror than fantasy, and if you won't be disturbed by the violence, then go for it. If you are the tiniest bit squeamish, then I suggest you pass.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1660345/alice-by-christina-henry

Lost Boy by Christina Henry

Review:

 

There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. Once I loved a boy called Peter Pan. Peter brought me to his island because there were no rules and no grownups to make us mind. He brought boys from the Other Place to join in the fun, but Peter's idea of fun is sharper than a pirate's sword. He wants always to be that shining sun that we all revolve around. He'll do anything to be that sun. Peter promised we would all be young and happy forever. Peter will say I'm a villain, that I wronged him, that I never was his friend. Peter Lies.

 

What if you heard the story from another character's point of view? Would it change who you thought of as the hero??

 

If the story was anything like this, then I would say yes. This is the true story of Captain Hook. In this version, Peter is a trickster with no conscience who only cares about staying young, having fun, and getting what he wants. Before he became Captain Hook, Jamie was a strong, determined young boy, even though he was more than a bit naive. 

 

Peter brought Jamie to the island so they could stay young forever, together. And no one had better stand in the way of Peter getting his way. Is Peter magic? Is it the island? And what will happen when Jamie finally figures out the truth?

 

OK, so we all know the end, but we don't know how they get there. And that is where this story hooks you. 

 

It is bloody, violent, sad, chilling, and even sentimental at times. I loved the narration. Samuel Roukin (British accent and all) set the scene and had me immersed in the world of the lost boys.

 

Highly recommended - if you don't mind violence. The concept of "never growing up" isn't as appealing as it once was...

 

It's not such a wonderful thing

To be young.

It's heartless and selfish.

- Jamie

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1658217/lost-boy-by-christina-henry

The irony of life is that those who wear masks often tell us more truths than those with open faces.

 

 

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Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.

- Adelina Amouteru

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1655163/post

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Review:

 

Yes. There is a witch in the woods. There has always been a witch.

- Opening lines

 

Magical babies are dangerous babies, Glerk tried to remind himself, day after day. When he wasn't cradling Luna. Or singing to Luna. Or whispering poetry into her ear as she slept.

-Chapter 5

 

A story can tell the truth, she knew, but a story can also lie. Stories can bend and twist and obfuscate. Controlling stories is power indeed.

- Chapter 38

 

Knowledge is powerful, but it is a terrible power when it is hoarded and hidden.

- Chapter 38

 

The village has always known about the witch, and about the sacrifice. Once a year, the Council of Elders takes the youngest baby and leaves it in the woods to appease the witch. But... the witch (Xan) has no idea why they leave the baby, so she takes it to the village across the forest and gives it to a loving home. Except for Luna... The witch accidentally feeds Luna moonlight (instead of the starlight she usually feeds the babies). The moonlight makes Luna magical. Luna grows up with Xan, Glerk (the swamp monster), and Fyrian (a Perfectly Tiny Dragon who thinks he is a Simply Enormous Dragon).

 

With characters like Xan, Glerk, Fyrian, and Luna, how could this story fail? The characters are amazing and the world is magical. People have been recommending this book to me all year, but I kept putting it off. I don't know why, but the cover just didn't appeal to me. Once I started reading it, I loved it. 

 

Recommended to: Grades 5 & up. Fans of magical stories or fairy tales.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1655162/the-girl-who-drank-the-moon-by-kelly-barnhill

Reading progress update: I've listened 232 out of 465 minutes.

 

Jamie what are you thinking?? That trickster Peter cannot be trusted, even if he is your best friend.

 

 

 

This is a Peter Pan told from the viewpoint of Captain Hook (before he became Captain Hook) and it's quite good so far.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1655155/reading-progress-update-i-ve-listened-232-out-of-465-minutes

Everfound - Audiobook

Review:

 

"We can lie to ourselves, saying we believe one thing, and sometimes we convince others it's true, with the hope that by convincing others, we can convince ourselves. Wars are often waged not because of what we believe, but because of the things we want others to believe."

 

Book 3 in the Skinjacker series. I love the series, the characters, the ups & downs, basically everything about it. I am now a huge fan of Neal Shusterman. This is the second series I'm reading by him and I'm now ready for the next one.

 

This book is amazing. It takes the characters on surprising and unexpected paths that end up in quite unusual ways. No characters are just plain evil or good. They all take personal journeys and look at the world in different ways. I felt for all of them at different points in the book and I cringed at their actions at other points.

 

Recommended: Grades 7 & up. Fans of fantasy or dystopian novels.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1654368/everfound-audiobook