"The Fault In Our Stars" - Book Review

 

Synopsis:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

 

 

 

My Review:

 

"My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations"
~Augustus Waters (The Fault In Our Stars, John Green)

 

Augustus pretty much spot-on summed up how my thoughts are right now. I'm going to attempt to explain how I feel and what I think about this book, but it probably wouldn't do it justice. The Fault In Our Stars was a beautiful, astonishing, magnificent, wondrous-and any other adjective that could best describe how awesome this book was-book.

I have fallen in love with John Green's writing, and this book is the best I've read by him by far. The Fault In Our Stars has instantly become a favorite of mine that I will definitely be rereading over and over again, which is saying something considering that I NEVER reread books (with the exception of Harry Potter of course).

The characters were so lively, likable, and so real. Gus was definitely my favorite character in the novel, I loved his humor and charismatic personality, and best of all his determination to leave an imprint in the world. Isaac was adorable and such a sweetheart.

Most of the time when I read funny scenes in books I laugh, but not a real laugh, more like blowing air through my nose with a small smile on my face. However, TFIOS had me laughing out loud and chuckling numerous times.

Having lost so many people I've loved to cancer this book hit pretty close to home. TFIOS really showed how the person with cancer isn't the only one affected, sometimes it's almost like everyone you love gets the disease too. Finally a cancer book that's not really a cancer book.

I could really relate to Gus, so many times in my life I felt that I'm not living a life that will be worth remembering or one that will go down in history. But TFIOS, just as other books by John Green, taught me a valuable lesson. It doesn't matter if strangers remember you 100 years from now, what matters is that you loved and left love scars on people. Maybe your story will die with them, but the love you had is infinite. My many loved ones that lost their battles to cancer probably won't ever have biographies or memoirs written about them, but the marks they've left on me were not and are not temporary.

Thank you John Green, for opening my eyes to something I never really realized, yet again.

 

HAPPY READING EVERYONE! :)

Wordless Wednesday

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HAPPY READING EVERYONE! :)

"Firelight" - Book Review

 

Synopsis:

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away;if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

 

 

My Review:

In all honesty this book did not cut out to be as great as I thought it would be. When I had first read the synopsis for Firelight over a year ago I was beyond excited, not only because it sounded like a really cool unique YA paranormal romance, but also because it was about dragons. Who doesn't like dragons?
This book was so-so. At times I liked the book and was interested in the plot and characters, but at other times it was dull. The rising action of the book fell right into your run-of-the-mill YA fiction paranormal romance novel. It was almost as if I was reading a remixed version of Twilight; the plot grew unoriginal.
Jacinda goes to a new school, falls for the boy that all the girls swoon over but can't have, and he falls for her when he would fall for no one else before. Around that area of the plot I was really annoyed, because with the unique concept of this book (dragons, and shape-shifting humans) it could have been more original.
The relationship between Jacinda and her sister Tamra, however, was something I was interested in. It reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my younger sister; not perfect, rocky more often than stable, and in that aspect I could relate to Jacinda.
Plot was something else I had a bit of a problem with. Some scenes would drag on and on with sometimes dull and boring dialogues and scenarios. While on the other hand, towards the last third of the book everything was happening so fast. Throughout Firelight scenes seemed to jump at wrong parts in the novel while droning on in others.
I had really expected more of Firelight, maybe I had gotten my hopes up too high for this book, but it wasn't bad. I'm thinking about reading the next book in the Firelight series, because who knows maybe it might be a lot better. I hope so with that cliff-hanger.

HAPPY READING EVERYONE! :)

In My Mailbox - Library Treasures

Hey everyone!

Once again it's time for an 'In My Mailbox'. In My Mailbox is a book blogging Internet meme started by Kristi over at The Story Siren. In My Mailbox is a meme where you talk about books you receive in your mailbox, giveaways, books you bought at stores, borrowed from the library and etc!


I am so excited for this book haul! Though there are only three books, this In My Mailbox is more about quality over quantity. Recently I went to the library after a really long day at school to return due books. I told myself over and over again in my head that I wasn't going to borrow any books this time because I have so many books on my shelves that need to be read. But, of course, I borrowed some books. If you're a book lover you know exactly how it goes. What was really exciting though was that the Colorado government donated a TON of books to the library and many of them are books I never imagined the library having for at least a year or so (my library can sometimes be pretty behind when it comes to getting new books, most of the books on the 'NEW' shelves are from 2010 and 2011). Thank you Colorado government! It certainly made my day, my week! So without further ado;

(In order from top to bottom)

 

Legend by Marie Lu

The fault in our stars by John Green

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

 

All three of the books above have been on my to be read list for quite some time now. Having found them at the library had me trying hard to contain my excitement in the quiet building. I'm super excited for this haul and cannot wait to sink into these books!

 

 

 

HAPPY READING EVERYONE! :)

A little update-de-doodlie-doo

Hey everyone!


So as you may well know I finished writing my novel (see post here) and am currently in the process of editing the crap out of it. Editing is no easy feat, I have friends reading the book and editing it for me (they are remaining neutral though, so they won't sugar coat anything for the sake of my feelings) and then I'll edit and revise some more until I feel like the book is chiseled, fixed, and polished to it's best.
I put a lot of work into this book, and for a very good personal reason. The original idea of writing Soul What?! came around when I really missed my sisters and the fact that I no longer could see them every day. They're my biggest critics and for as long as I remember they've listened to me tell them story idea after story idea and read chapters and writing to them to no end. For once I wanted to finish a story, and I did (but only the writing is complete) and they don't have a clue about it. This project has been about two years in the making, from brainstorm to written word, and the anticipation of them finally being able to read the book whenever it's published and ready to read is killing me. It's almost like an ache that's eating away at me, but it's the force that's driving me forward and telling me not to give up. So I'm going to continue to edit and work at this until Soul What?! is a real book they can hold in their hands.
The characters are almost like real people to me, I've spent so many hours and weekends pouring over my laptop, putting eye drops in my eyes, and scribbling scenes in class or whenever a scene idea came to mind at the most random of times. But it was all worth it. I know  it will be.
If my sisters like the book then I will be happy and feel like I accomplished something great. It wouldn't really matter if no one else in the world ever read the book, (I'm not trying to sound like a jerk and dismiss the world) I mean yeah I would really love it if people experienced the story too, but I would be content if my sisters are happy with it.
The editing process is about 1/8th done, there's still a lot to do. It's slow but steady but I'll get to the finish line soon enough.

HAPPY READING EVERYONE! :)

"Crimson Frost" - Book Review

 

 

Synopsis:

For a moment, a face flashed before my eyes—the most hideous face I’d ever seen. No matter how hard I tried to forget what had happened, I saw him everywhere I went. It was Loki—the evil god that I’d helped set free against my will.

I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we’d gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I’d have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn’t see that one coming.

I’ve been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison—and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan’s dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I’m guilty. If I’m going to get out of this mess alive, I’ll have to do it myself…

 

 

My Review:

 

OH MY GOSH. I can't even figure out the right words to say just how awesome this fourth book in the Mythos Academy series was. I fear I'm going to sound redundant with this review by saying what I seem to say in every Mythos Academy series book review. Jennifer Estep has outdone herself. Every single book in the series is better than the last and has you wanting more. Crimson Frost was brilliantly written and Estep put so much thought into the intricate webbing of the plot. WOW.

The action was as intense as ever and I was constantly on my toes, enjoying the thrill the entire read. I really like Gwen as a character, she's starting to seem more like a friend than a literary character in my one of my favorite novel series. She's a strong heroine that any teenage girl could look up to. I'm not a teenager anymore but I kind of look up to her, as odd as that may sound. I love the budding relationship between Logan and Gwen, throughout all the battles and drama that goes on in their world they still manage to strengthen their bond.

There were a number of new characters introduced in Crimson Frost, and Alexei has grown on me. I won't give away any spoilers but I really liked him and the awkward "relationship" that he and Gwen had. Crimson Frost was filled with a lot of jaw dropping moments with twists and turns in the plot. So many unexpected things were thrown at the reader that were so shocking and mind-blowing. Bravo Jennifer Estep. I haven't read any of her other books aside from the Mythos Academy series but her writing style is becoming a favorite of mine.

The cliff-hanger at the end of Crimson Frost is probably the best of the series. I am dying to get my hands on Midnight Frost when it comes out in August. All I can say is if you guys haven't started reading the Mythos Academy series, you're missing out.

 

 

 

HAPPY READING EVERYONE! :)

Wordless Wednesday

Hey everyone!

I've decided that I want to have more frequent posts on my blog, instead of just the usual reviews, hauls and interviews. A lot of blogs that I've seen (not just book blogs) have Wordless Wednesdays where they just post a picture and don't say anything. I think it's a wonderful idea, though I don't know who the original idea belongs to so I can't give credit. If you know who came up with the idea let me know and I'll cite them. :) My Wordless Wednesdays will be book-related of course, given that my blog is The Literary Forest. So without further ado here is the wordless image of the week;

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HAPPY READING EVERYONE! :)