Book Review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Sunday, January 28, 2018
Title: Scythe

Series: Arc of Scythe #1
Published by: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers on 22nd of November 2016
Genre: YA, Sci-fi Dystopian
Format: Hardcover, 435 pages
Purchase: Fullybooked [PH] | Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4 Roses

Thou shalt kill.



A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.


Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
Diving into this book, I actually know nothing more than that it is about a future where there is nothing more to learn and discover. Everything was already at the peak of its progress that even immortality have been conquered and with that, Scythes were made to control a population where nobody gets to die, so the idea is to basically kill people to maintain the growth that has no equivalent deaths. This is like a Black Mirror episode y'all! And if you love that series, I bet you'll love how crazy a perfect world gets.

So this "killing", in this futuristic world, is called gleaning, and only a Scythe is allowed to glean another human being, and the people chosen to be gleaned are entirely from a scythe's decision. According to one scythe, Scythe Faraday, who took two apprentices (Citra and Rowan, the main characters), the way he chooses these people is entirely out of statistics. It is based on the most probable death that would occur during the mortal age. So from a pool of possible candidates, it was in a scythe's own volition on who he/she would choose to glean.


It's kind of illogical that a scythe would just glean just because he/she picked you but somehow I don't know if I find comfort in it that it's kind of the same thing when you die suddenly in the mortal age (although dying,  sometimes,  can be avoided at times. That's why we have doctors!) , but in here,  there's no god to give the verdict. In the future the god's verdict is a scythe's verdict and it's disturbing that a life is on the hands of another human being with a title. It's really scary to come to a time like that and we're lucky that we still live in a world where taking someone's life by another one's hands were still frowned upon and openly called murder and is not a legal thing in the society.

This is a very scary concept. I cannot imagine a more suitable way of executing this idea other than what Neal Schusterman did. You read a lot of utopian future but it was something else entirely to put the idea of stagnation in the midst of human race's highest peak. One would think that when humans unveiled everything, it would be perfect. It was far from perfect. It is a monstrous world. What with conquering immortality, having no faith and having nothing to hold onto, the lingering destruction is just around the corner; a ticking bomb waiting for the perfect time to explode and leave nothing to humanity in its wake. Ultimately, the destruction is always at the hands of the weapon's wielder, and in this book, natural weaknesses are far from it. We are the wielders of our own destruction and it is a thought that each one of us knows,  but no one dares to do anything about it. We just keep on pushing discoveries for the betterment of humankind, and there's nothing wrong if we continue the learning and knowing and discovering,  but I hope that the real universe (that's us)  will have a good outcome when our time for this kind of life come knocking on our doorstep. 

The world building is not necesarily that beautiful because we do not really need to see this new world entirely because as you progressed in the book, being in this futuristic world, you will bear witness to the big changes that the human progress have made. It was incredible how, as we go along the story, we saw what a thunderhead is or the advancement with the aging process or the changes in transportation. I think it was awesome that Neal Schusterman have thought of all of these. The story itself was scary in its own way. I can't imagine myself witnessing our world to transform into this futuristic world. No. Way.

Character-wise, it felt a little too forced for me because the character development was not profound enough for me to actually be in these characters shoes and understand them for their motives, their changes, I mean, I don't know a lot about their past or what they were before they plunged into that kind of life as an apprentice of a Scythe. All we know was that Rowan was a lettuce, which translates to a life that is just a filler, just there doing nothing compared to the beef patties who took all the world's spotlight onto them. Then we have Citra, who is not the favorite in the family. The characters have developed, yes, we ultimately saw that towards the end, but during the trainings, it was so hard to see how and why they evolved, they just did. I don't really know how to explain how I felt about that but the characters' feelings are just concealed until they were revealed, I guess that's how I felt. Speaking of these two, I felt even more disconnected with their feelings for each other. It's also a case of concealed until revealed. How could they love each other?? Anyway, I did not bought that subtle romance at all.


For the villain, Goddard,  I would love to hate him but it's really hard to do so. He stands firmly to what he believes in and for him, the end justifies the mean.  What really irritates me is how Rowan had responded to everything Goddard wants out of him. He was a former apprentice of a man with character and morality but he was so easily messed up by Goddard.  I hate that part. So moving on,  Goddard has no inkling of soul left in him and you'll find that some of what he believes in make sense but really,  he's just an entitled murderer.

Lastly, I just want to say that my favorite characters were Faraday and Curie. Not the main characters. Hahaaha just wanted to put it out there!  😂

Putting these characters and disconnections aside, I really loved how the story played out and the end was just perfect! HAHAHA. Those moments leading to the final pages were just omg, I cannot say anything more because I might spoil you guys, but I was shocked really. It made me excited to read the second book. So basically,  the latter parts of the book are the main turning point of the series. It starts the questions: 'how will the scythedom end?' or 'how will Citra be the key to humanity's redemption?'


I can't say I love the book but I really do love the concept and, as others have already said, it is thought provoking and it really is.  It makes you think about where the progress lies at this moment.  Are we at 50%? *shudders* I hope there'd be a different outcome when we get to the 100%.


Book Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas [very late review:D]

Saturday, January 27, 2018


Holy efiin omygoodness I can't ughhh my heart. My feelings. I cannot. My eyesss. My tears. It's so beautiful and ugly and full of freaking surprises! The surprises were like fireworks here and there and it rips my heart into tiny shards of happiness and sadness and guilt and all feelings I could muster. It was an all in one roller coaster of feelings for me.

23766634

Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #3
Published by: Bloomsbury USA Childrens on May 2nd 2017
Genre: New Adult Fantasy
Setting: Prythian and mortal land
Format: Paperback, 699 pages
Purchase: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.4 Roses


Looming war threatens all Feyre holds dear in the third volume of the #1 New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit – and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords – and hunt for allies in unexpected places. 

It was a glorious ending for a great beginning and beyond any description in between. This ending is all about war and it is dead! dead! dead!!! Who died??!! I'm not going to tell you! Sarah did not hold back on giving us all the gruesome details to a heart-stopping conquest to save both mortal and immortal realm. It was too long for my liking though and too much narration that I skipped some parts to get to the good ones (BWHAHAHA!). Those narratives were the only dull moments in this book, the others were just spectacular, surprising, gut-wrenching and nothing short of amazing. I have no other words to describe it very well and I can't convey how much I am in awe right now to this amazing series that I have read. So if anyone is reading this... This series is highly recommended.

I cried my eyeballs out on that ending. I cannot endure that kind of feeling that I felt while reading that chapter 77!! Shit! My heart. Please save me from this kind of sadness. I'm okay now though 😂 . Don't ask me why. Find that out for yourselves people! This last book is about Feyre's adventure of accepting her demons and Rhysand's road to accepting that selflessness will sometimes get him nowhere. That's my shorter way of putting it, but it is so much more than that. READ. IT!!

-------KIND'A SPOILERY, I THINK. NO, I WAS JUST GUSHING ABOUT STUFF BUT CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK-------

First of all, (wait, this is not first of all, I already said too much! HAHA) this had me glued against my will because I've got to know how this war will end. It was a really long ride for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

There were bits and pieces of Moses, Snow White's evil queen and Rumplestiltskin (?) that I encountered and it was fun making those associations even though it's just a really small thing.

Here's the evil queen part, this is about the Ouroboros, the mirror that Feyre needs in order to recruit Bone Carver to fight for her in the looming war.

"Only that a dark queen had once possessed it, cherished it. Spied on the world with it—and used it to hunt down beautiful young maidens to keep her eternally young."

Then here's the backstory of Drakon and Miryam, how they fled and how Nephelle saved the latter. It was like Moses!

"And when they beheld that army charging after them, they knew their own force was too small to face them. So they cleaved the sea itself—made a path through the water, all the way through the channel, and ordered the humans to run."

Lastly, I felt like it was just something small that Sarah just thought to like put in there. This is the part where the Bone Carver is trying to lighten the Ouroboros mission, which Feyre deemed impossible.

“What would you give me? Riches do me no good down here. Power holds no sway over the stone.” He chuckled. “What about your firstborn?” A secret smile as he gestured with that small boy’s hand to himself.

With those little details aside, I just want to let it out that the possible OTPs here in this book is like woah! Sarah, can you not? Omg!

We have this Azriel-Mor-Cassian, Azriel-Elain-Lucien, Nesta-Cassian-Mor, and Amren-Varian. They were all in there like wow how can we even pick sides with those triangles in there?

Here's my pick though: I would love Azriel and Elain (Azlain?), and Nesta and Cassian (Nesian?). Shit, how about my favorite Morrigan? 😩 I think the one for her would come at the right moment. I don't like what she's doing to Az and I love the connection between Azlain that's why this is my otp! How about Lucien and Elain, you ask? Does it even exist? Hmph. Even though I really like Lucien as a character, I didn't see that the Cauldron made the right pairing between him and Elain. It was said that not all mating bonds are accurate. It is not all the time that you see a perfect mating bond like Feysand you know. So I'm sorry Lucien, I know I seemed happy during ACOMAF days that you became mated with Elain, but seeing that it doesn't really click at all in all aspects with Elain, I really am quite doubtful. So I am a die hard Azlain ðŸ’—. I really love Azriel in general, the brooding and self-loathing but gentle guy making sure that he can convey to Elain that she isn't alone and they click quite well, HAHHAHAA AZLAIN *heart eyes*.

My Nesian otp? I know everyone ships them! Who are we kidding? They were extreme opposites but it's so obvious, even with Nesta's stone cold front, that she loves Cas and cares for him more than she lets on. It's quite disappointing though, that Cas holds on to the idea of Mor. I really hate the part where Cassian was hurt and nobody noticed except for Nesta, Nesta tended him, Mor saw that Cas is hurt, asked him if he's alright, and you know what Cas did???!???!! He drew his hand away from Nesta! Wow this guy!!! But I'm still shipping them. We all know Mor will never love Cassian (not in that way) and Nesta is Cassian's happy ending :P

Lastly once again, MY CONSTANT OTP, forever and always, FEYSAND 💗 I love these two. All the world needs is Feysand and everything will be alright! Come on people, drool with me!! FEYSAND. FEYSAND. FEYSAND ðŸ’—💗💗




Book Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas [QUITE LONG]

Saturday, January 13, 2018


Source: PhantomRin9
My friend through many dangers. My lover who had healed my broken and weary soul. My mate who had waited for me against all hopes, despite all odds.


17927395

 Title: A Court of Mist and Fury
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Published by: Bloomsbury USA Childrens on May 3th 2016
Genre: New Adult Fantasy
Setting: Prythian mostly and mortal land
Format: Hardcover, 626 pages
Purchase: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 100 Roses (joke, full 5 Roses)
Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

I cannot even fathom a review as great as this book had been!! I'm speechless and excited and giddy all at once. I feel like my gush of words won't be enough to portray that this book is now on my NUMBER ONE!

This book is nothing short of spectacular. I loved how it kept me glued to it and if I could devour it for the whole 48 hours (which is the estimated reading time based on moonreader but I probably read it for less than that, collectively) without sleeping, I would have, but even a high lord needed sleep so how could I even fight it, right? So anyway,  this book kept me on the edge of my seat. Every turn of page is something new to dwell on, every turn of events surprising and engaging, every bickering and flirting would have you excited whether they would end up kissing or you knowwww but you'll end up really frustrated but giddy at the same time because, duh?? Rhysand just can't help but sweep you off your feet every single time. Just, everything fits perfectly right the way the untold stories were unraveled. I would practically jump inside the book so I could will myself to read faster and know what else will happen,but I'm just a mere hooman void of maybe something that I could wield to make me read faster. I am just a mere hooman waiting to be sent down that effing cauldron to have some of that gift if it even existed.

"Did you enjoy the sight of me kneeling before you?"


 WTF Rhysand! Stop telling those things! You're making it hard for me not to fall for you! HAHAHA, I tell you, the sexual tension in this book was higher than my roof! For the whole part of it you just want to see even just a kiss from Rhysand and Feyre but of course, you'll always be left hanging.

 Just a glimpse of what I thought about Rhys to get you excited and curious about who he really is.
In his darkness floats his dreams and his family's dreams. And in darkness you might find all the bad and the gruesome but the stars twinkle in the dark and it's where all his hopes and good intentions lie, no matter how bad the price he might pay for the dark front he lets everyone see. No matter if he gets written in history as the worst villain, he will pay the price for what he loves most and he will fight no matter what.

YOU ALL NEED TO READ THIS SERIES BEFORE CONTINUING. SPOILERS AHEAD!

I delved into this book with little hints of knowledge here and there and I refused to believe even for one second that I would shift to Rhysand! Oh hell was I wrong. At first I was really really frustrated because I felt like everything that I loved Tamlin for in the first book was slowly being shred off him. I even felt like Sarah is betraying him by making him look like the villain in Feyre's eyes and I hated that and boy was I wrooong. You see, Rhysand, there could only be one effing Rhysand for Feyre and I have no room for Tamlin ok? I was soo wrong for thinking even for just one second that I could stay in Feylin's ship forever. Now I hated Tamlin's guts and I'm so excited to read the next book and see how everything goes.

I'm still contemplating whether Tamlin really loves Fey or he just wants her as prized as she is. I still can't comprehend that. He became a villain of Fey but is he really? Is he winning Fey back and selling her off in the process part of some greater plan of his? Does he really have a greedy heart? Typing this though, I realized and remembered that he became a part of the ruthless king's plans in the process of getting Fey back, and that made him the worst and I don't think it's love. He is selfish and thinks only of himself. He never thought of Feyre being first on his top priority not like Rhys did. Rhys' every decision always revolves around keeping Fey happy and content and safe without putting shackles on her and letting her choose on her own free will and not letting anyone, even him, to make her decisions for her.

I haven't seen much of Lucien in this book but I trust him. Really trust that he's not half the man Tamlin is, which is a selfish and coward shell of a beast he truly is. I know deep down within me that Lucien is an ally of Fey now that he'd become her sister's mate. That would seem like I'd be seeing more of my favorite Lucien on the third book and I am so glad about that.

"You do. But you need to start mastering them. To learn what you inherited from us.”

At the time it was revealed that Fey might have the seven high lords' powers and she could wield it to save Prythian I felt like she's become the avatar, the master of all seven courts of Prythian, and she will SAVE THE WORLD!!! Now you have my full attention Feyre.

As the book progressed, we saw how Feyre evolved. We all knew that she is strong-willed and badass even from the first book but we saw how she was transformed from the lifeless puppet Tamlin wants her to be, to the woman who holds her own fate in her hands with Rhys by her side. She almost always become a beast herself just so she can save people she love, and with her new family, she's not letting anyone or anything get in her way of saving what she loves most.

I loved that we saw more of Rhysand and know more of the back stories behind each characters, new and old. We saw more of Rhysand's side on the root of the rivalry between him and Tamlin; Miryam, Prince Drakon, and Jurian's story; Rhysand's full story during ACOTAR; and we finally met the ruthless King of Hybern and it was not pretty. Everything went ugly the moment they stepped on the King's castle.

So moving forward, during the revelations of Rhys on some parts of the story, I realized I'm looking at Damon and Stefan all over again (Rhys being Damon and Tamlin being Stefan)! That time when Damon actually revealed that he found and I guess loved? Elena first and he just wiped that memory away and they're the one really meant for each other was just... shitt. ok? I am emotional people! My Rhys, oh my Rhysand you make my heart ache with your selflessness. 

Then there's this Ianthe bitch, I knew from the moment she emerged from the book that she is not just a priestess. I know I'm always weary of new characters no matter how good or bad they might seem, I'll always have doubts, and of course, I am right about this bitch (I'm wrong about Lucien though). I can see through you Ianthe!! You will die soon enough!!

Now let's move forward to Feyre's new found family. My Illyrian warriors, Azriel and Cassian and Mor and Amren. I love these people. Shit shit if Elain and Lucien were mates, could it be that Cassian and Nesta??!! Holy shit! this series just keeps getting better. 

Let's get to the good and heart stopping parts.

I knew!! I knew from the looks of those wretched queens that they would bring Hybern right to Velaris' doorstep! I almost cried thinking that Velaris would be wiped out of the map. Thankfully, our heroine makes her own choices and she's not some fragile coward who is about to walk and lock herself in a safe place and cower while her newfound family and people fight to death for her. She is powerful if she willed it and she will stand alongside her warrior friends while doing so. I love it. I love how happy their little family had become for a short time of their reunion even though everyone knows that that would be short-lived.

Next, I did not know why they haven't thought even for one second that it could be a trap. Why was the plan and execution easy for something so powerful? Even I suspected that someone could be waiting for them you know? Maybe kill them right then and there, though that didn't happen, all the worst things did and it made the story even more interesting.

What happens as last pages became thin were worse then worst then more than effing WORST. But there were the good part, the that's-my-Feysand-right-there kind of parts.

So first, Feyre stoopid-not-hooman-but-a-powerful-fae has succumbed to the alluring sound of the book of something something, and so all the efforts were failed only to find out that it was a suicide mission after all. The king knew and Jurian was there and they were nullified. No powers, no mental conversations between Feyre and Rhysand, no, nothing. THEY FAILED! And now, they were trapped in the wretched castle for eff's sake. huhu. That's not the worst part, though. The fucking worst part was TAMLIN! Tamlin, moothee effin Tamlin!!!! He bargained with the king in exchange for Feyre!!! The worst part of the end of the bargain was that he would give the king permission to use the spring court in order to bring the walls down and bring destruction to the mortal lands. EFF YOU TAMLIN YOU SELFISH BASTARD!!!!!!! That's not love Tamlin! That's obsession! That's possession!!! Ugh, now I hate Tamlin to the core. He'll get what's coming to him. I really hate him. Then there's the ever loyal Lucien by his side as always, but the good thing is, I think something has stirred within him, because somehow, he needs to protect what's his even from his most loyal friend and high lord. I am so looking forward to that.

 Wait, there's more, the worst than the worst part! This Ianthe bitch brought out Feyre's two sisters and they became lab rats to the king's experiments!!! WTF is that?! The king will make an example to Feyre's sisters to show the wretched queens of the mortal lands that it is possible to give them immortal life as a fae. I can't believe it. Nesta lived her whole life hating faeries, and now she became one, and she became a dark-with-unknown-power kind of fae.

 Oh wait, I forgot that there was more than the worst than the worst part. Aside from Feyre in exchange for camping at the spring court, Tamlin also asked the king to remove the bargain tattoo from Feyre. I was so afraid at that point but I believed that their relationship is deeper than that tattoo and I believed in FEYSAND.

 So lastly, I'll get to the good part, Feyre fooled everyone. OR DID SHE?? I don't believe even for a second that the king and Tamlin would be fools. Can the mating bond be forced on someone?? Well, they kind'a believed the show that Feyre put on in order to save her Illyrian family and her biological family. So now, Feyre is back at the spring court with her "beloved" Tamlin. Tamlin is just blinded and a fool you know? Lucien senses something fishy with Feyre and he feels something is not right and that's for the third book I think. Ok ok let's get to the best part!! FEYSAND GOT MARRIED!!!

 We saw on Rhysand's POV what happened after they went home to Velaris. Amren was like "YOU NEED TO GET YOUR MATE BACK! YOU NEED TO GET FEYRE'S ASS BACK HERE YOU BLOODY FOOL!!" But no! No people!! Rhysand is calm!! So they had to have some sort of plan B if all else fails AND THEY DO HAVE ONE!! The HIGH LADY OF THE NIGHT COURT is in the spring court! YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN??!!! THE HIGH EFFIN' LADY! So what does that mean y'all??! That means that Fey and Rhys got married! The eloped in hooman's term. But whatever! They strengthened the bond that is already living inside of them by going to a priestess and marry one another. Rhysand did not just declared her as his mate, not a consort, but Feyre is to become his equal, she has to become the HIGH LADY of the Night Court,  and that's the best thing that could have happened on this book. It doesn't compare to the freedom that Rhys has given her, because he respected and believed in her so much that he made her the HIGH LADY and his equal at the night court! I feel so happy and teary-eyed right now. I love it. I love it. I love every single page of this book. I LOVE IT!

Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Thursday, January 11, 2018
Source: Signature Reads

"I love you," he whispered, and kissed my brow, "Thorns and all." 

16096824
Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
Published by: Bloomsbury USA Childrens on May 5th 2015
Genre: Some say YA some say New Adult Fantasy
Setting: Mortal Realm and Prythian
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
Purchase: Fullybooked [PH] | NBS [PH] | Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5 Roses

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.


I thought Cruel Beauty is a dark and twisty tale re-telling of one of my favorite classics, but ACOTAR proved to be a strong contender, and not just a strong contender but a fair and intricate one.

It is a very well thought of world with all creatures and places strong and real enough to actually be a source of everyone's nightmares. I couldn't actually conjure more scary creatures than the creatures I met in Prythian and I wanna see what they're really like because I don't trust my imagination to be that good, and I think they are really scary and gross and idk, I need to see some of them, but not in real life please!

All I could say was this re-telling was not pretentious at all with all the flaws that could mar a human woman which wasn't purposely concealed by a supposed perfectness of a heroine that could face anything. She is just human, a stupid human for that matter and she really is. I do not know if I liked Feyre's character or not and she is just too stubborn that I want to grab her hair and drag her back to the house and lock her there. She almost died enough times to last her a lifetime and she still manages to disobey orders! What?! Feyre has a death wish guys,and somehow, she's our main character and she can't die because we won't have a story anymore, right?

So I loved how the story unraveled. It was a rather slow world building and story telling but I think it was worth it once you get to the good parts. The story is woven perfectly, from the backstory to the curse, to the present situation and just everything falls into place. The problem only ever comes from Feyre. Everything, just everything is just, ugh, she's frustrating. Hahaha.

I think I've already said too much and I need to discuss more. Spoilery section ahead!

So of course I've been snooping everywhere about books and saw a little bit about the new ship that many have already been aboard. The Rhysand-Feyre ship and I still cannot comprehend how that would happen. Of course, I saw some comments that would say 'At first, I thought my ship would not sink, but it's really hard not to shift ship because...' I cannot continue because that would kill my curiosity and imagination about how the author can shift my ship to another ship. I'm quite angry, I tell you, because I already fell for Tamlin. HOW HOW HOW? Okay, let's stick to the situation at hand. I'll think about my Rhysand problem once I get to know him more. Ok? I'll keep my feelings at bay I promise.

Let's talk about Tamlin. Tamlin, I like him but not nearly as much as I like Lucien. Tamlin is cute and I did not really see him as horrible but his intentions are blurring out. I don't understand him for the most part of the book until the revelation of the big secret that everyone keeps from Feyre. Tamlin is our hero of the book but sometimes he gets a little coward and all he could do was kneel and beg and not really fight. I don't know what I felt about that because he's supposed to be the strong prince of the story. I liked him though and I am sailing on the Feylin ship ok?

Lucien is like,I did not like him at first because I think he's a bad person. I have my doubts as for anyone that doesn't involve the main characters. I've had enough books and movies that involve traitorous two-faced bitches, but Lucien is just not who I was thinking he is. He's loyal and amusing and a total prick sometimes, but that was the entertaining part, ok? He's sassy and likeable in his snarky own way. He is brave and I am hoping that he'll find someone for him. Because that would beeee great!

Rhysand. I have no opinion of him. YET. He is an interesting character and we do not know much about him but he's an ass and let's see what the next book tells us about him and how things would play out that I would be burning my Feylin ship to the ground just to hop aboard the Feysand (is that what they call it?) ship. Let's see... I'm skeptical but let's freakin' see.

It was a slow budding romance between Tamlin and Feyre, and Tamlin was so sweet and romantic and all that shit that comes from being a high lord of spring court and everything was lovely. I love that he did not force her to love him despite the curse and I think he really fell hard for Feyre because he puts her safety first rather than face the consequences of the breaking of the curse, because Amarantha is shitty like that.

All of Tamlin's efforts went downhill in the end though because Feyre decided that she still had a death wish and she would save the whole Prythian because she's the heroine, and at the end of the day she would live and continue on to the second book.  So at the end of the book, everything was exciting with breath-stopping badass scenes. We saw that Feyre is dumb on a lot of things but not under duress. Her hunting instincts always seem to click on the right places that always saves her dumb ass. I know I seem harsh on Feyre but I can't help it. She just seems stupid on most parts when she's not being badass on a battlefield.

Towards the end, we saw more of Rhysand and his never-ending arseness and I hated him more and more but he's interesting in a way that it is so obvious that he would turn his back on Amarantha anytime and if he could kill him, he would, but he can't so he'd just be her whore.

The bargain tattoo. Let's talk about that bargain with Rhysand and Feyre. So this thing would bind them and will have them time to spend together on the next book. AND THEN WHAT? A week a month for eternity and I'm supposed to fall in love with Rhysand? Oh please, don't kid me. Not when he does those things to Feyre every night and I can't stand that Tamlin just watches and ughh everything felt wrong!

Then there's this riddle. Fairly easy Feyre! Why haven't you figured that out right then and there!! Could have saved you from all the stupid trials you know? But the trials were interesting and heart stopping, so maybe it was a good thing that Feyre has her human shortcomings.

There were three trials for Feyre. One is with the wyrm thingy that showed how clever she is in trapping monsters and killing them. Next is a riddle I think? And she gets to answer by pulling the right lever with the right answer. There were three levers with I, II, and III written on top of them and if she picks the wrong one, both she and Lucien would die by being crushed with a descending hot chandelier on top of them. But we have an illiterate heroine, ladies and gentlemen, which she could have remedied by the way, because she had a lot of time on Tamlin's manor doing nothing you know? But it's just not for her and it could have cost her her and Lucien's death. So she picked one lever and she felt a stinging something on her hand that had the tattoo. Hmm. interesting. Next lever, and there it was again. Sooo, Rhysand was trying to send her a message to save her. So she went on for the last lever and they were saved. The last trial came. MORE DEATHS! There were three faes in front of her and she is to kill them with an ash dagger. One, kill! Two, kill! Three, surprise, surprise!! Feyre's gonna kill Tamlin with her own brutal hands! Surprise! Amarantha playing god working against Feyre's favor people! But then again, our pretty little Feyre had this little flashback inside her head and she knows, she knows that she could stab Tamlin and not kill him, I don't know how she figured that out but she did and eventually she did learn the answer to the riddle but Amarantha is just a bitch and she still wants to hold everybody by the balls and decided to kill Feyre because apparently,  she's just a sore loser when she said,

"I'll free them whenever I see fit. Feyre didn't specify when I had to free them...blabla Foolish, stupid human."

Wow, Amarantha, so mature. She couldn't accept that there was someone meant to break her curse. Stupid bitch, of course there is always someone, even a human, that will break the curse, and she can't admit that she lost. Okay, not yet, the curse has not been lifted yet because Tamlin is still on his knees and can't do anything. Rhysand, still a mystery, tried to stab Amarantha but she's still powerful and then surprise, seconds before she would die on Amarantha's hand, she FINALLY learned the answer to the riddle. LOVE, of course, come on people, love is always the answer no matter how cliche it is. So the curse was broken but her neck snapped and there's no going back from that and then Tamlin our lovely beast killed Amarantha in the end.

The next events were like Breaking Dawn, where Bella was resurrected after dying and became a vampire. Feyre became a fae because all seven high lords sprinkled some faerie dust on her and that was all I could do not to laugh. It was funny for me.  So yeah, she was resurrected because of those glitters and now everyone is happy.

At the near end, Rhysand and Feyre had a little encounter that is now foggy in my memory because I don't like Rhys, but there was a moment where Rhys was hit with shock about something from Feyre. Did he saw that Feyre has powers? Did she have powers? Or what? What is it? Is it related to the bargain bond between them that could make Rhys send some signal to Feyre when needed? WHAT IS IT?!!

Ok, that's it, my heart was racing the entire time I was typing the last parts of this review, but I gotta get my feelings out there. Bye!



Love-Hate Relationship with John Green: Turtles All the Way Down Book Review

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Image result for turtles all the way down
Source: Verily Mag

I guess I would be included on the 5% (probably 1?) of the bookish population who does not particularly like this new John Green novel at all. I've been watching reactions from my favorite book vloggers and they've really liked it. I know exactly why I didn't and I can't ignore it no matter how hard I try.

"But the sky isn't one thing. The sky is everything. And last night, it was enough."



Title: Turtles All the Way Down
Author: John Green
Published by: Dutton Books for Young Readers on Oct 10th 2017
Genre: YA
Format: E-book
Purchase: Fullybooked [PH] | NBS [PH] | Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3 Roses


Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.
Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. 
In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.


For my non-spoiler review, I would just probably say that it's not one of the books that I flew through reading. I found it really hard to finish it and if it weren't for my curiosity about OCD and anxiety and the "MYSTERY" that wasn't really present, I would not have finished this at all. 

It was a great portrayal of something that not all people understand and experience, I'll give you that. It was great writing as usual. I would recommend this book to be read in order to feel what you normally wouldn't (if you don't have OCD and anxiety), because reading this is really frustrating and to have someone like Aza would be really frustrating if you do not understand, and being able to read through someone else's mind is a refreshing take on an uncharted territory. 

I also did not like how the book was wrapped up. The ending just brought me more questions and I wasn't satisfied with the over-all book with the exception of the supposed main conflict and the most important part of the book, which is the awareness of the uncontrollable mind of a teenage girl named Aza. 

If you like to know more about how I felt and come on if you want to argue with me, please do, because there's just a lot that didn't sit well with me and I need enlightenment hahahahah. =))

--------What follows contain spoilers so read at your own risk--------

10 Reasons Why I Don't Love It

(Kind of not in any particular order)

10. Daisy-Aza Relationship. I don't particularly like Daisy because she did not make an effort to understand at all. I hate their relationship because they've been friends for like forever but they never really understood each other and being best friends means that you try to reach out to the other person when you don't understand them but I did not see that with Daisy and Aza. It made me sad to think that they knew each other for a long time I guess, but there was a huge gap between them because they don't really know each other well and their friendship is so superficial and I don't know how they've been together for such a long time. Maybe they've just really clicked because of their complete oppositeness -- Daisy talks too much and Aza does not bother to talk at all (unless necessary and spoken to directly).

Next is, Daisy is so mean and I do not really connect with her character because she was just there and she was not a support at all. She's just a character that was supposed to be there to be a fanfiction writer and a superficial friend to Aza. Bluhh Daisy.

9. Shrink-Aza Relationship. What's the role of the shrink again? Ugh. I mean, I don't understand at all how a psychiatrist should treat his/her patient but I've got a pretty good idea about how Aza's shrink is not helping her at all. She just listens half-heartedly, shoves some words to let Aza believe that it's all in her head, prescribe a treatment, and then get paid. She does not really reach out in order to understand the intensity of Aza's thoughts because she just shoves words into Aza and then Aza will throw it out on her other ear. All the shrink ever told Aza was that her thoughts are not actions. I don't know how else a person could try to fix a problem they do not understand, but first she should have understood what Aza feels in the first place. I felt like Aza's shrink was dismissing her thoughts. Aza found it hard living in her own head and with the people around her, I didn't feel that anyone understands her at all.

8. Mother-Aza Relationship. I don't know why, but I did not feel the mom's presence really significant in the story at all. She was just there, being a mother but doesn't know what to do. I guess she understands that Aza's head is not something she could ponder deeply and I know how a teenager and a mom can really get in private situations and I don't really know what I really wanted out of  Aza's mother in this novel but it's a plus points that she understands her in some level and that she will always be there for her no matter what but I just didn't really feel her at all. Oh well, adults don't really understand a teenager's mind, do they?

7. Davis-Aza Relationship. I just didn't feel like they have a true connection. It was really sweet for some moments when they're together. I guess Davis just needs a friend in that stressful moment of his life  and Aza feels like he's her childhood crush and that they should talk again or whatever. I thought that Davis would try to understand what is really going on, like to truly delve into her mind, but there's just too much happening in both their lives so the two of them just became an escape for each other. So okay, whatever.

6. Ever cringe-worthy philosophical mind of what, a teeenager? I mean, I'm not saying that teens can't be that smart and philosophical but it's just too much. They've got too much realizations that proves that this really is a novel and is a product of someone else's mind.

5. Misleading synopsis. Death of Russell. I have too much questions that went unanswered. What happened to him? Why did he die in there? That ending was a bit rushed and there were a lot of loose ends. There's just to much thread in the web of happenings that it was not really spun that well. I mean, the synopsis was well about their supposed secret detective investigation in order to get some money, but it was a novel of self discovery and friendship and love and philosophy and not at all about a missing person's investigation. Not bad, but shouldn't you put a better synopsis than what really isn't?

4. The Money. I just never understood why there was no resistance between Aza and the money. A person should have at least a little decency about refusing it even though he/she really wanted it, but I guess I just never really liked how it was told. If I were Davis, I would really be disappointed that they were really just after the money, but then again we all want what we do not have, right? And money is one of them. Next, if I were Aza, I'd be hurt about what Davis did, to think so lowly of me, but then again, I was really doing it to get the reward money, right? And I got it. It just did not sit well with me.

3. Thought spiral. I did not really enjoy this part particularly, even though this is a big part of what is supposed to be the main point of Aza and her OCD and anxiety in order for us to understand it better. I got it the first time but as the book progressed, I very much just wanted to skip on it but I cannot because I might miss something. I don't really know if I loved the way the thought spirals were represented or if I don't. Oh well, I just realized that by feeling this way, I could generally see or feel how frustrating it must be for Aza and for the people around her the way that everything just spirals and there is no way out. Should I really put it on this list or should this be down below? Anyway, this is a love-hate entry!

2. Open-ended. It's Eleanor and Park for me all over again!! ! I really hate using my imagination in order to imagine a future for the characters that I read! I hate you authors! HAHA just kidding! Aza's imagination of their future is not enough for me!! I need the real thing!!!! FRUSTRATED!!!!

1. Overall disappointment. The story. The relationships. And everything from 10-2. Ugh, it's Paper Towns all over again for me, but at least in Paper Towns, it got me hooked in all the adventure but I completely nosedived in the end. With Turtles All the Way Down, it never really got me up there for me to really dive right down.

5 Reasons Why I Liked It


5. It tackled a new side of mental illness that was really new to me. I didn't know how bad it can get and I literally had my heart on pause with the sanitizer episode and I was really scared that it can actually lead to death without ever being in control of what is happening. I was really shocked and this is an eye opener for me.

4. Open about what she is thinking. Aza is a really closed off person. She doesn't volunteer her thoughts but what is great about her is she does not keep it when she is asked. She opens herself with the right questions. So I guess we should really talk to people and be involved, sometimes it pays to wait for them to open up but there are times when they are just waiting for us to show that we care enough to ask.

3. The Blog. I love Davis' blog. I love the poetry and everything. I think he's a sweet boy.

2. A lot of quotable quotes from a teenager's philosophical mind. Yep. John Green's mind is a book of quotes.

1. Wait, I cannot think of anything anymore. I thought I could think of five. My apologies for the misleading header! hahhha

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )