ARC Review~ Defy (Defy #1): Sara B. Larson

ARC Review of Defy by Sara B. Larson

Rating: 8.25 4stars

Series: Defy #1

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Expected Publication Date: January 7, 2014

Recommended For: fans of Graceling and Legend

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Page Count: appx. 336 (according to Goodreads)

Format: E-ARC

Goodreads Synopsis: A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

*I recieved an ARC copy from Netgalley, but this does not in any way affect my honest review of my own individual opinion*

My Background: I first learned about this book from Fiction_TheNewReality when she did an ARC review. This was also my first ever e-ARC from Netgalley that I got because of how interesting the plot sounded. Everything I knew about this book was from the Fiction_TheNewReality's review and the Goodreads synopsis, so I dove into the book and read.

Plot 9/10: I personally loved the plot of the book very much because of the total kick-ass female character Alex(a) Hollens. 

I did have some problems with the book. It seemed like it took about 5 different plot lines, and elements that were thrown into a Nutri-Bullet and blended together. There were all the Graceling elements with the female character having something to hide, and being the best fighter, along with all of the magic. There were elements from Legend by Marie Lu in that *spoiler alert for the first 35%* her brother "Marcel" died (sounds a lot like Metias doesn't it?), then snooty Prince Damain seemed to be exactly like Anden. Ofcourse there were all the themes from Mulan when it came to a girl being dressed up as a man, which is not a critism, but merely a point.

Characters 9/10: So my feelings about the characters are that I love the characters as characters, but I didn't always like the way they were portrayed and my connection with them. I was also a little confused with the number of guards for Prince Damian because of all the random names that didn't really have faces or characteristics to go with them. Anyway the three main characteres were Alex(a) Hollens, Prince Damian, and Rylan. Alex(a) Hollens is the main character of the book that has been pretending to be a man in Prince Damian's guard for the past three years. Prince Damian is the spoiled, lazy brat of a prince that seems to be oblivious to the world around him. Rylan is Alex(a)'s best friend (aside from her brother) and part of the Prince's personal guard.

My favorite character surprise surprise is Alex(a) because strong female leads are just so irresistable. 

What I felt throughout the entire book was disconnected from the characters. Their pain, struggle, and sacrifice wasn't portrayed well enough in this story. I also felt that even though Alex(a) was the main character, I didn't feel like the focus was on her as much, which is surprising since the book is written in first-person. 

As @Crystalbookland said on twitter: I feel more interested in Damain & what's going on with him than Alex(a) right now

Romance 5/10: I honestly think this book would have been better without the love triangle, or maybe with just one guy instead of the two. I remember reading Doughnut&Co's Review and she expressed my feelings perfectly.

"What I, however, absolutely detested about this book is that it felt the need to have a love triangle. It didnt need a love triangle."

Don't people remember in the early 2000s when it was cool for a girl to only have one person she loved? Instead of two or more to make things more complicated. There was also the oh-so-cliche outcome to the love triangle. I personally have problems shipping people because I want them to have three-way relationships because I can't choose who I like better. One of Alex(a)'s two suitors was surprising to me, and I didn't know why I hadn't figured it out before. I also think that it was a little too sudden. From about 48%-52% of the book they've proclaimed their undying love for her, and she's kissed both of the. She also has been working with/alongside the two men for more than three years, and all of a sudden she's just noticing their swoony chest muscles, and the color of their eyes? 

Cover 5/10: I honestly didn't really like the cover because it reminded me way too much of Graceling's by Kristin Cashore. The swords in the middle of the page looked to similar. This is personal preference, but I did not like the color scheme of Defy. The ombre green as a background with the title in bright red. I did however like the hilt of the sword (it could be a dagger, I have no idea what the designer was going for) with the rose on it. To me, it was sort of like an inside joke with the reader that she was a girl. The small touch of a female characteristic in a book that's characters are 95% male.

Title 4/10: If Sara B. Larson read this review, she would probably kill me because of how much I didn't like the outward appearance of her book. I just didn't understand why it was called "Defy". That kind of title would work better for the last book in a cliche dystopian trilogy where the people rebel against the totalitarianistic (is that a word?) government. I sort of understand where she was coming from (trying not to spoil the book) because of the defiance displayed by Damian, and the fact that Alex(a) was defying the usual groove of society by being a soldier in the midst of a society where they don't let girls be warriors, but besides that I don't understand it.

Feels 5/10: I really didn't feel any feels for this book unless they pertained to the romance. Sure there were occurrences that surprised me, but nothing that out of the water. I was in fact torn between the two guys, and the moments between them were what made me get the feels. The physical appearances of both of them were so good, and although different, both of their characteristics were very valiant, and well-meant. 

Writing Style 8/10:  What I enjoyed about Larson's writing was Alex(a)'s voice. She really reminded me of June Iparis from Legend, in that her sense of duty, honor, and what's right and wrong is really strong which is excently portrayed in her thoughts and opinions.

Pacing 8/10: My one complaint is about the chapters. It felt a little James Dashner-like because the chapters were short bursts of action/thrill/suspense, then they stopped. Another concern of mine is that the last sentence of a chapter didn't connect with the first sentence of the next. Not in the sense that they weren't about the same subject, but that that there were mini plot gaps where one moment the characters are doing this, and the next they're doing a completely different thing. There were also formatting issues on my kindle version. Besides those chapter issues, the book was really well paced. There was enough action at the right times, and all the events were in order and spanned the right amount of time. 

Ending 9.5/10: The ending was one of the best I have read in a long time because of the way it left you completely satisfied, and full of closure. I was a bit sad at how the romance ended, but I won't say anymore about that. 

Quotes 4/10: I am a bit dissapointed at the lack of un-quoteworthy quotes in this book. These are the two quotes I put for my reading log since I couldn't think of anything else.

"All of it, all of my love and pain and anger surged up and filled me with fury-with purpose-with power. I felt it building in my chest, and I attacked." 79%. Alex(a)'s narration.

"True beauty is what lies inside of us, not what the world sees. A beautiful shell that houses a vile soul becomes sullied over time. But an outer shell, imperfect as it may be, that houses a beautiful soul shines with that beauty, radiating it for all who have eyes to see." 96%. Lisbet. this is actually a cliche idea in most inspirational book, but the way Larson states it is what attracted me to the quote. A vile soul being sullied has a nice ring to it. 

Continuation: 90% Yes, I will read the sequel although I do think this would have been a good standalone novel. Their story could be finished as far as I know. On Sara B. Larson's Goodreads profile, it said the next book will come out in 2015, so I will read it because I want to know what happens, but definitely think this could have been it as a story. 

Conclusion: Even though there were some elements of  "Defy" I didn't like, I would definitely 100% recommend that people should read Sara B. Larson's debut novel.

Blogger Note: When I read this review back to myself it sounded as if I gave it two stars instead of four. I sincerely enjoyed this book and thought it was awesome, and kept me at the edge-of-my-seat *cliche *. It just felt like to me that the small quirks, although small and infrequent, stood out to me especially making them bigger than one would think they would be. 

 

Last Minute Read-a-Thon: Goals

Last Minute Read-a-Thon Goals 

For read-a-thons or anything of the sort where I have to choose which books to read, I never actually end up reading those particular books. What I do know is that I want to read 3 books and finish the 2 I'm currently reading which are an ARC of "Skin and Bones" and "All Our Yesterdays" by Cristin Terrill. 

This is the list of books I'm probably going to choose from for this read-a-thon, most of them being from my most recent "Stacking the Shelves" post.

-Smoke: Ellen Hopkins

-Anna and the French Kiss: Stephanie Perkins

-Hate List: Jennifer Brown

-Wintergirls: Laurie Halse Anderson

-Chains: Seeds of America: Laurie Halse Anderson

-The Coldest Girl in Coldtown: Holly Black

-Just One Day: Gayle Forman

-The Summer I Found You: Jolene Perry

-The Seers: Julianna Scott

Top 10 Tuesday: 12/24/13 Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me



*This is a day late because of the holiday craziness, so Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season*

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme and weekly event posted every week on (OMG) Tuesdays by The Broke and Bookish. Is it bad to say that I want a lot of books and this was hard because of all the book I want Santa to bring me?  I was also wondering if we could include ARCs, anyway in case we couldn't I only listed books that are already out.

This is not in the order of what I want because like I said last Tuesday, you're already making me choose only 10, now you want them in order?

1. Unsouled: Neal Shusterman

2. Catalyst: Laurie Halse Anderson

 

3. Dead Silence: Kimberly Derting

 

4. The Elites: Kiera Cass

5. Pawn: Aimee Carter

6. The Darkest Minds: Alexandra Bracken

7. The 5th Wave: Rick Yancey

8. Another Little Piece: Kate Karyus Quinn

9. Eleanor & Park: Rainbow Rowell

10. United We Spy: Ally Carter

Last Minute Read-A-Thon Sign-Up

Last Minute Read-a-Thon- Hosted by Vonnie's Reading Corner & A Night's Dream of Books~ Sign-up Post

Vonnie @ Vonnie's Reading Corner & Maria @ A Night's Dream of Books are hosting the 2nd annual "Last Minute Read-a-Thon" for people that want to finish up the year well by checking off just a few more books from their TBR lists.

The Requirements are:

• You must post a Sign Up Post and put your link in the Linky widget below.
• You may put up your post on your blog or Facebook.
• You must have our button with links to the hosts' blogs.
• Once the read-a-thon begins, you must post your launch post, on Dec. 26th, with your reading plans/goals.  This will count as 2 entries in my giveaway.
• Publish your wrap-up post on Dec. 30th, anytime that day or the next day.  This will count as 2 entries in my giveaway. 
• Have fun!

There will also be a prize for not one, but two winners!Along with posting the launch post and wrap-up post, eachmini-challenge completed will count for 2 entries into the Rafflecopter.

Here are the (optional) mini-challenges:

(Each one will count as 2 entries

in the Rafflecopter.)

Dec. 27th- Rainbow Book Spine....grab books from your shelf that have the following spine colors to make a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, & violet.

Dec. 28th- Love it or Hate it: Post up book covers that you love and hate explaining why.

Dec. 29th- Remembering 2013: Answer the following...

1. Best Book of 2013

2. Worst Book of 2013

3. Favorite New Author

4. Book that surprised you

5. Book that disappointed you

Stacking the Shelves (2) Smoke, Wintergirls, Fever 1793 & More

This is my second “Stacking the Shelves” posts! For those of you that don't know "Stacking the Shelves" is when you list the books you've added to the shelves,virtual, physical, or whatever shape or form you get them. I know some people post them once a month, once a week, it varies. For me, “Stacking the Shelves” posts will be posted every time I return from the Library. The reason for every time after the Library, and not buying books? Well frankly, I’m really poor. As people may know, “Stacking the Shelves” posts are hosted by “Tynga's Reviews” 

Reason for Going to the Library Today: My books were due today, and there will probably be a new post on the second of January when those books are due, but never fear I have an 8 books at a time rule.

 

What I checked-out from the Library today:

• Anna and the French Kiss: Stephanie Perkins- I've heard so many awesome things about this book and it's Goodreads average rating is 4.2 stars which is really good.
• Chains: Seeds of America: Laurie Halse Anderson- My official new thing is to get a new book by Laurie Halse Anderson each time I go, this is just following the trend. One of my friends did a book report on this, and it seemed really interesting.
• Smoke: Ellen Hopkins- My other official new thing is to get a new book by Ellen Hopkins every time I go to the library because her writing is just gives me the feels and this is the sequel to "Burned" so a series overview will be coming really soon.
• All Our Yesterdays: Cristin Terrill- Everyone has had this on their top books of 2013, so I thought I'd follow the trend and try reading it.
• Hate List: Jennifer Brown- The plot sounds so interesting, and I can't wait to read this.

What I still have from my last Library visit:

• Wintergirls: Laurie Halse Anderson- It's a reread that I haven't read yet because of the "End of Year Read-a-Thon" so it wouldn't have counted.
• The Coldest Girl in Coldtown: Holly Black- I read the first 10 pages and thought it was boring, but I'm going to give it more of a chance.
• Just One Year: Gayle Forman- Didn't get around to reading this yet.

What I returned to the Library today:

• Under the Never Sky: Veronica Rossi- I didn't get around to reading this, tell me in the comments if I should have, but I just didn't because I didn't have time.
• The Sky is Everywhere: Jandy Nelson- I finally finished this, this afternoon. Full frustrated review coming soon. 
• Crank: Ellen Hopkins- I finished this and a series overview is coming when I read the remaining books in the series. 
• Fever 1793: Laurie Halse Anderson- This was such a good historical fiction. I haven't read books in this genre since I was little and it was a breath of fresh air. 
• Everlost: Neal Shusterman- The review is already up and you can learn all of my opinions there. *smiley face*

 

End of Year Read-a-Thon 12/21/13

End of Year Read-a-Thon 12/21/13 Most Anticipate 2014 Releases

Dec 21 Most Anticipated 2014 Releases--post links
Hosted by Alex @ BookChick

January 7- Enders (Starters #2): Lissa Price. I loved "Starters" in 2012, and hope the sequel is just as good.

January 7-The Impossible Knife of Memory: Laurie Halse Anderson. It's Laurie Halse Anderson, anything will be a masterpiece.

February 4- Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3): Marissa Meyer. I think a majority of the YA blogging community wants the third book in the Lunar Chronicles.

March 11- Ruins (Partials Sequence #3): Dan Wells. I admit I haven't read the sequel to "Partials" yet, but I hope it will be as good.

April 29- The Taking (The Taking #1): Kimberly Derting. It's Kimberly Derting and the prospect of more spicy romance and paranormal occurences. Duh I want to read this.

May 6- The One (The Selection #3): Kiera Cass. I haven't read "The Elites" yet, but I'm crossing my fingers it will be as good as "The Selection"

May 13- Rebel (Reboot #2): Amy Tintera. My feelings were a bit iffy about Reboot, but the concept was so cool. I really want to see what Tentera can do.

May 31- The Guardian (Proxy #2): Alex London. I was freaking in love with "Proxy" and want to hear more about Syd.

Summer- Untitled (Unwind #4): Neal Shusterman. No cover yet. I really want to hear the conclusion to his fascinating quartet.
Fall- The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1): Marie Lu. No cover yet. I need to read more Marie Lu.

Everlost: Neal Shusterman

Everlost: Neal Shusterman
Rating:  8/10 4 stars
Series: Skinjacker Trilogy #1
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Release Date: October 1, 2006
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 313 pages

Goodreads Synopsis: Nick and Allie don't survive the car accident...

...but their souls don't exactly get where they're supposed to get either. Instead, they're caught halfway between life and death, in a sort of limbo known as Everlost: a shadow of the living world, filled with all the things and places that no longer exist. It's a magical, yet dangerous place where bands of lost children run wild and anyone who stands in the same place too long sinks to the center of the Earth.

When they find Mary, the self-proclaimed queen of lost kids, Nick feels like he he's found a home, but Allie isn't satisfied spending eternity between worlds. Against all warnings, Allie begins learning the "Criminal Art" of haunting, and ventures into dangerous territory, where a monster called the McGill threatens all the souls of Everlost.

In this imaginative novel, Neal Shusterman explores questions of life, death, and what just might lie in between

My Background: I knew three facts about this book before reading it. Number One: It was part of the "Skinjacker Trilogy". Number Two: Neal Shusterman wrote it so it was going to be awesome. Number Three: Some people on Goodreads had thought it was a bit childish. 

Plot 9/10: I don't know where to begin. As usual, Shusterman makes up an entire universe, along with all of the needed rules and regulations there. Everlost is complicated, unique work of art that required a lot of careful planning and creativity to make up all the rules of the souls that aren't living or dead, I refuse to say 'undead' because they aren't. He had to come up with everything from why they didn't have to breathe, from how to get birthday cake, and how to find a place where you won't sink the center of the earth. 

There is just so much to say about the rules of Everlost, Mary Hightower has written volumes, so if you have any questions, leave it in the comments. The gist of it is that Everlost is the place between the living world and the afterlife. Only certain things can "cross-over" such as things that were wrecked before their time, and children under the age of 17. Everlost mirrors the real world, if not in a haze. If a being in everlost steps out onto something living in this world, then they will sink to--as rumored--the center of the earth. The souls in Everlost are like ghosts--but aren't--in the sense that living people/things can step right through them and have no idea they were doing it. There are some select few that can "Skinjack", which means they can step inside a living person's body and control their minds, thoughts, and actions.

As previously mentioned, I had heard of complaints about how this book is more MG or Middle Grade, and I do agree with those people, but a teenager--like myself--can still enjoy this book. The romance isn't graphic, the violence and danger is stressed only enough to scare a 4th grader, and the choice form of torture is to stick people into pickle barrels for eternity.

As classically with Shusterman, he writes in third-person POV, but features individual characters as if by first-person. There are essentially four plot threads that eventually get weaved into one magnificent rope of thrill. Allie's, Mary Hightower's, Lief and Nick, and the McGill's. In short, this is a wonderful plot full of twists, turns, and adventure in a world that may very well exist.

Characters 6/10: Neal, Neal, Neal, you disappoint me with these characters, like your previous books, they're all one-dementional, and the development and growth is either non-existent, or all at once. The four main characters are Allie, the skeptical one who becomes an outsider and forges her own path (how original) through the story. Nick, the guy that is content once he reaches the Everlost, but has enough fire to know that something is up. Lief, the guy Allie and Nick find in the dead forest that follows them because he's an 11 year-old boy who at times still wants his mommy. Mary Hightower, the guardian/caretaker of more than 300 children in what used to be the Twin Towers.

Favorite- By far I loved Mary Hightower. Despite being alive for hundreds of years, she never really grew up, or got the whole romance thing right. She's 15 and in charge of over 300 children in the Twin Towers, providing necessary nourishment and housing for them. She's the one who makes sure everything goes right. In the quote below, she says she's the mentor, guardian, and mother to them. Mary needs to care for them, but can't get too emotionally attached because she needs to make sure everything goes smoothly. she knows how to play the games of life, and be a leader, if not a very truthful one. She's smart and tactical, but still needs to get off her high horse sometimes. Overall, she's nowhere near the strong female characters in most novels nowadays, but reminds me more of Luxa from "The Underland Chronicles" by Suzanne Collins.

Romance- Neal Shusterman may be a great author, but I cringe at the romance every time in three separate books/series. Except for two moments; the quote below about Mary's feelings for Nick, and everything is an utter disaster. I don't feel like Nick and Mary had enough time to connect, and when the "Big L" comes, I feel it's completely too soon. It wasn't even the classic "hostile girl's hard exterior is weather down by funny guy and they fall in love" sort of romance, it was this. Step 1, Mary meets Nick, and tries to act superior. Step 2, Mary disregards everything and falls head-over-heels in love.

Cover 10/10: When I was in the in-between period between books, a friend of mine came over to bake gingerbread cookies (we burned them), I asked her which book I should read next based on the cover alone. She said either "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown" by Holly Black, or "Everlost", because of the eerie feeling it gives off. May I say, the color scheme is brilliant. The cover was basically different shades of green, the trees fading off in the background, Allie an Nick running towards something. I think Allie and Nick running towards something made the cover better because it left "room for the imagination" as Anne Shirley would say. If they had been running towards us, it would have been perceived as they were running away from something, that they were afraid, but this way we feel like as readers we are trying to catch up with them. The cover could not have been done better.

Title 9/10: I would personally lost to see what "Everlost" has been called in the early drafts. It's obvious to name a book after its location, but rarely the first choice. I would have loved to have read "Mary Hightower's Rule When Two Strange Children Pop Into Her World and Destroy Everything". I think the title couldn't have been better because just being everlost, or forever lost. Where are you lost? Why are you lost? All of those questions and more come up just when reading the title.

Pacing 5.5/10: My feelings about the pacing of this book were very mixed. I almost felt there were some unneeded parts or sequences in the book that could have been taken out, making it a much shorter book. After the initial introduction to the book, and what my Language Arts teacher would like to call the "Exposition" where we get to know who the characters are, the basic plot, and setting, I felt a lot was unnecessary. Don't take my word for it on the page numbers, but around pages 35-55 I felt like I didn't need. All it was explaining was Lief, Allie, and Nick's journey from their forest to Mary Hightower's residence. There was the whole part where the trio was intercepted by some "bad guys", who do come back later, that was a little boring. I don't know how Shusterman could have changed it, but it was boring hearing all about Nick and Allie's panic at being in the Everlost. Then once Nick and Lief were caught by the "Mcgill" there were some scenes that I felt like wasted my time. Overall the pacing of the book was like an earthquake seismograph. A straight line, then sudden action knocking the plot off the charts, but it was sporadic and the thrill was unevenly distributed.

Writing Style 7/10: If you have read any of Shusterman's books before, you will know this is a classic, if not geared a little towards younger readers between the ages of 8-12. It has the subliminal humor just underneath the surface, but was lacking the sarcasm featured in "Unwind".  There isn't much to say about it that isn't in "Characters" or "Pacing".

Feels 6.75/10: The feels of contemporary books rarely measure up to those of any genre that isn't and that reins true here. I think the feels described in action, fantasy, dystopian, or any other genre of the like have to be measured in suspense, thrill, and action. The cliche "edge of your seat" "page turner" moments in a book are the defining factors.Sure I felt the expected emotions at the expected times, but nothing made me want to fall to my knees yelling "NOOOO!!!!", except the ending with the romance which I shall not talk about.

Ending 10/10: May I just say, the last three chapters were some of the most plot-twisting, Oh-My- Gosh-How-Could-I-Have-Been-So-Blind moments in a book. I can't spoil them *wipes away tear* but I can tell you that you will be GOL, "Gasping Out Loud". Lose ends were tied, but those ones led to even more threads.

Continuation: 100% yes I will read the next book. If not a little more Middle Grade, I certainly enjoyed it and the ending almost killed me. I am going to the library tomorrow and I need to get the sequel.

Quotes 3/10: As you know I have to write down two quotes for the cursed reading log. I have to admit after reading about five contemporaries in a row, I was disappointed with the number of quoteworthy quotes. The two I chose are actually more geared towards the plot itself than mind-blowing, life- changing realizations.

"She was a mentor. She was a guardian. She needed to keep an emotional distance from the kids under her wing. She could care about them-but only the way a mother loves her children. As long as she remembered this, she would be fine." Page 80. Mary Hightower

"The McGill had not let his temper rage this powerfully for a very long time. He had forgotten how good it felt. Anger! Let it fill him. Let it rage like a dance of flames." Page 247. McGill

End of Year Read-a-Thon 12/18/13-12/20/13

End of the Year Read-a-Thon 12/18/13-12/20/13 Post a Review, Spine Poetry, Spell it out challenge

 
I am so sorry this post is for 3 days worth of challenges. As I explained in my last post, I have out-of-town visitors, and tests right before Winter Break, but this post is up now.

December 18 Post a Review Challenge--leave a link to any revew you posted for a book in 2013 Hosted by Munira @ In Vogue with Books 

This one is pretty easy, my review of  Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, otherwise known as the first review I have ever posted on this blog. I was in love with the book, and my review will tell you why. 

 



December 20 Spine Poetry--any books read in 2013, but must use titles that have 4 words or less 

I'm pretty bad at poetry, some examples from my tumblr are here. Fun Fact: I remember the first ever acrostic poem I wrote was in 1st grade in Mrs. Lopez's class about Abraham Lincoln. I changed this post a little because the line didn't have to be finished to go onto the next one.

Though everything happened so fast, I feel I have changed for the better because of it.
Hannah Baker was never just another girl to me
I know I was not just another guy to her because I was one of her
Reasons, number nine to be in fact. Does 
This sound bad? But I'm glad I wasn't a direct reason for her death
Even though everything happened to me, the rest of the world will never know her legacy
Eventually her name will be whispered by Freshman saying, "Did you hear Hannah Baker committed suicide?"
Nevermind who she really was, just a name, no face or human being to attach it to

Relativity of the entire situation escapes me
Even though I wasn't a direct reason, I
Am the one who is most responsible because I could have
Stopped her from doing what she did
Omens were there, no one cared enough to see them
Neglect from everyone, isolation.
Some people come out stronger the other end, the others don't make it at all

Why? Why did she leave me?
How could I have let her go so easily?
Y did it have to happen at all?

December 20 Spell it out challenge-Use the first letter in any book read in 2013 to spell out a word--can choose first name, initials, your birthday month, or zodiac sign. Post links. I cheated on O, #readingcram gods can kill me now, I just didn't read any books that started with 'O'

Speak
the kill Order
Fever 1793 
If I Stay
Article 5  

Legend
Insurgent 

 

End of the Year Read-a-Thon 12/17/13

End of the Year Read-a-Thon 12/17/13 Song Challenge

*I am so sorry for having this come up so late, but better late than never right? I have out-of-town visitors. The rest of the posts I'm behind on are coming in a group, but this one was long and needed to be by itself*

*I'm sorry the playlist isn't in order, I didn't know how to do it like that*

December 17 Song Challenge--pick any book read in 2013, and choose song(s) that best describe the book. You can even create a playlist if you want!--post links to songs (youtube, spotify, etc) Hosted by Tanya @ BookLovingHippo 

I was so freaking excited for this challenge, because besides reading books, listening to music is my ultimate passion. I have a playlist comprised 12 songs (the length of a normal album) from different artists that I believe would be a good soundtrack for the "Legend Trilogy" by Marie Lu. If you couldn't tell, I'm into country music. *There are spoilers to the series so skip ahead if you don't want to see them*

1. "Marching On" One Republic: This is the perfect opening track for this 'album'. It gets you in the mood of despair of the Republic and the Lake Sector which is where "Legend" starts. 

"There's so many wars we fought, There's so many things were not, But with what we have, I promise you that, We're marching on," 

"For all of the plans we've made, There isn't a flag I'd wave, Don't care if we bend, I'd sink us to swim,"

 "We'll have the days we break, And we'll have the scars to prove it, We'll have the bonds that we save, But we'll have the heart not to lose it."

"We put one foot in front of the other, We move like we ain't got no other, We go when we go,"

2."Silver Lining" Kacey Musgraves: To get away from the whole dismal theme started with the first song, there's this one. Do I even need to explain this? It's obvious Kacey wrote these lyrics as Day simply pointing out to June that everything would be good as long as she saw the silver lining in the cloudy day known as her life.

"If you're ever gonna find a silver lining. It's gotta be a cloudy day. If you wanna fill your bottle up with lightning. You're gonna have to stand in the rainIf you wanna find the honey. You can't be scared of the bees. And if you wanna see the forest. You're gonna have to look past trees."

 
3. "How You Learn to Live Alone" 'Avery Barkley' Jonathan Jackson Nashville Cast: At first when I heard this song I thought it would be fitting for June after she left Day, but then I realized this would be perfect for June when Metias died. Think of it as Metias looking down on June and singing this. The very beginning especially these lyrics because every revelation brought June closer to the truth. Then the uncharted hemispheres representing her feeling lost. The feels the book gave me are reflected perfectly in this song.

"Flap your arms, as you run. Every revelation brings you closer to the sun. You fall asleep in moetion. In uncharted hemispheres. And you wake up with the stars falling down around your ears. And when they hit the ground they're nothing but stones. That's how you learn to live along."

4. "Arwen's Vigil" The Piano Guys: There isn't much related to Legend since this instrumental, but I am in love with the way it starts off soft with the piano, then the cello gets added, and everything takes off from there. Even without words, this song tells a story, you just have to listen close to hear it.

5. "What You Gonna Do" Hunter Hayes & Ashley Monroe: I'm frankly not even sure who's POV this is sung by, but I don't care. I remember listening to this song for the first time without Ashley Monroe, but with it turns into something magical. The song is just about loss, something not uncommon in the series, and this song is not about the act of losing, but the person that gets left behind which is simply beautiful.

6."When the Right One Comes Along" 'Scarlett O'Connor & Gunnar Scott ' Clare Bowen & Sam Palladio Nashville Cast: These are all of June's feelings about Day at the very end of Legend when they are in the train, and she's thinking of how perfect he is, and how unexpected. There wasn't music and confetti, but she knew he was the one, the world was cold but he was warm and she was where she was supposed to be.

"There's no music, no confetti. Crowds don't cheer, and bells don't ring. But you'll know it, I can guarantee. When the right one comes along"

"In a cold world, it's a warm place. Where you know that you're supposed to be. A million moments full of sweet relief. When the right one comes along"

   7. "If I Lost Myself" (Cover) 'One Republic' Madilyn Bailey & Corey Gray: Frankly the way they sing this song is perfection. The rich blend of their voices together make it perfect. This song expresses June and Day's relationship in the beginning of " Prodigy" when Day says 'I love you' to June. After the initial shock of everything that happened, even though wary, he knows June will be there for him, and she will ground him if he begin to loses himself. This is especially prominent at the end of "Prodigy" when Day pledges his allegiance to the Republic because life as the Republic's figurehead isn't the best. 

"I stared up at the sun, Thought of all of the people, places and things I’ve loved. I stared up just to see. With all of the faces, you were the one next to me. You can feel the light start to tremble, Washing what you know out to sea. You can see your life out of the window tonight. If I lose myself tonight, It’ll be by your side."

8."Tomorrow Will Be Kinder" Secret Sisters: The feels this song gives you, the way it makes you picture this barren, gray field. Yet this song is hopeful, sort of like a more mature version of "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" from Annie. It can be told from either Day or June's POV as they both go through so much, but I on the other hand, think it could work for Anden. Right after is father dies, and he becomes the Elector.

 "Black clouds are behind me, I now can see ahead. Often I wonder why I try hoping for an end. Sorrow weighs my shoulders down. And trouble haunts my mind. But I know the present will not last. And tomorrow will be kinder"

9. "Let Her Go" (Cover) 'Passenger' Alexi Blue: I think everyone knows why this song is here. At the end of "Prodigy" when Day (the goddy idiot) thought it was best to let June go because of his impending death. The only difference is that he knew he loved her

"Well you only need the light when it's burning low. Only miss the sun when it starts to snow. Only know you love her when you let her go. Only know you've been high when you're feeling low. Only hate the road when you’re missin' home. Only know you love her when you let her go. And you let her go"

10. "Don't You Remember" Adele: This is actually a song choice that surprised myself because of how well it would work for Tess and Day. Everyone thinks about June's struggle and pain when Day left her, but we rarely think about Tess. It was briefly explained in "Champion" how she loved him as a caretaker, and someone who needed to be taken care of; the perfect relationship. I am not a Day+Tess shipper, but I do feel sympathy for her. Besides in my opinion being weak, and the only character I wasn't in love with, Tess as a story too, and this song explains it. 

 "When will I see you again? You left with no goodbye, Not a single word was said, No final kiss to seal any sins, I had no idea of the state we were in,"

"When was the last time you thought of me? Or have you completely erased me from your memory? I often think about where I went wrong, The more I do, the less I know,"

"Gave you the space so you could breathe,I kept my distance so you would be free, And hoped that you'd find the missing piece, To bring you back to me,"

11."God Gave Me You" Blake Shelton: I'm pretty sure Day doesn't believe in god, and he may not be a walking heartache, but I do know about his feelings for June. There are just too many lyrics describing things perfectly.

"But you stay here right beside me. And watch as the storm blows through. And I need you" June stayed, June stopped hi execution, she never left, except for when it was best.

"Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs. God gave me you for the days of doubt. And for when I think I lost my way. There are no words here left to say, it's true." His love for her was so pure and true.

"That you, an angel lovely. Could somehow fall for me" He underestimates himself, and his worth, always thinking June is better, but she fell for him anyway.

"On my own I'm only. Half of what I could be. I can't do without you. We are stitched together. And what love has tethered" They do make a perfect pair that are better together.

12. "Wine After Whiskey" Carrie Underwood: This is a perfect ending song because of it's semi-darkness of her feelings at the end of "Champion". The whole alcohol thing doesn't really work for June and Day, but the first verse/45 seconds are simple amazing. It's more of the feel of the song that makes you get chills up your spine as Carrie sings almost in June's POV about how no one else will be as good as Day. This verse truly is the icing on the cake for their relationship.

"Looking back I guess it's really for the best, still you’re something that I crave. Even though I know it was right to let you go. You’re a habit hard to break. I got used to being high and nothing that I try seems good enough right now"

Feature and Follow Friday #1

Feature and Follow Friday


Hi, just posting this to tell you that I am now doing "Feature and Follow Friday" hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Leave a comment below to telling me you followed, and I'll follow you back via bloglovin

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

How To Become a Featured Blog?

We pick our featured blogs randomly each week from the blogs who participated the week before.

Please be sure to feature your e-mail address clearly on your blog. Either on the main blog, on a Contact page, or on an About Me page. If I can't find your email easily, I will choose a different blog to feature.

Question of the Week: Pick a book in your favorite genre that you’d recommend to a reluctant reader. I've broken this question down into three categories in order of what genre I think a reluctant reader would like; Science fiction/dystopian, paranormal romance, and contemporary.

Science fiction/dystopian~  Legend by Marie Lu because I was in a reading slump and this immediately took me out of it, and made me want to devour the sequels. It isn't formula dystopian, and equally appeals to both genders because of the narration by two people.

For paranormal romance~ The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting because I don't traditionally prefer to read this genre, but the concept was so different and interesting that a reluctant reader would be interested in within the first page.
Contemporary~ Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher because of the way it captivated me when I wasn't really into contemporary novels, and how the book didn't delve too deep into what Hannah was experiencing, which could possibly deter some reluctant readers.

Top 10 Tuesday (1): Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2013

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2013 


Top Ten Tuesday is a meme and weekly event posted every week on (OMG) Tuesdays by The Broke and Bookish. I have read so many new books and discovered so many new authors so this list was hard to make.

I could not decide what order to put these in, so the numbers are just for the purpose of knowing there's ten, not the order of my favorites, because really, you already made me choose my favorite authors, now you're making me choose what order they go in?

1. I think everyone knows by now that I am obsessed with the Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu, and if u don't, feel free to check out 'Meeting Marvelous Marie Lu'. I read the entire trilogy in 2013 and have been hooked since the first page of Legend. Her unique voice and writing style is just the icing on the cake.
2. Gayle Forman is a pretty new to me author in the last two months and I'm so glad I discovered her. Her plot lines are pretty standard romance, but the way she weaves them in with the characters and other elements in her writing make her books gripping until the very end.
3. Ellen Hopkins is also another new author to me as of last summer, and I do not regret finding her at all. The fact that she writes huge 500+ page novels all in verse is breathtaking. The talent it takes to make such a variety of formatted poems is astonishing. The subjects her writing is about can be considered disturbing, but I think she writes about these hard topics such as drug use and sexual harassment is artful and portrays just enough truth without making it overly graphic.
4. Another contemporary novelist. Most people know Matthew Quick as the author of 'Silver Linings Playbook', but few know about one of his newest novels 'Forgive Me Leonard Peacock'. It's the only book I've read by him, but it stayed with me for a long time after I finished it. If I've only read one book by him, and he's on my 'Top Ten Authors' list, you know he has to be good.
5. Just today, I finished my fourth book by Neal Shusterman. Every single one of his books have been non-stop thrill rides that have left me breathless until the very last page. What he lacks in character development, he makes up in complex plot lines. The three series I have read have been completely individual and unusual, with concepts that make you take a step back to think.
6. I feel like all of the authors are contemporary, but here's another for you; Laurie Halse Anderson. I've read 'Speak', 'Wintergirls', and 'Fever 1793' is in my bucket of books from the library this very moment. All of them have painted a permanent picture in my mind showing the horror of eating disorders, and the pain people go through. She is a very thought-provoking novelist that I think all teenagers should read.
7. I know Lauren Oliver is famous for the 'Delirium' trilogy, but I am far more partial to her debut novel; Before I Fall. What's not executed in Delirium is raw humor, and thought provoking writing. Before I Fall has all of it and more.
   
8. John Green has been around for a while, but I just discovered him and really like his voice.  Voice is obviously something I am really attracted to in books, and his name should be a synonym for unique in the thesaurus. He has such ironic humor that is weaved in so well, his jokes seeming so natural like they're just as extension of the story.
9. I've read both books the amazing Jay Asher has published this year, and they were both amazing. He has an undeniable sense of humor, and a voice that you won't soon forget. My only complaint is that he hadn't written anything else. 
10. Orson Scott Card has been around for 30 years, but he seems new to me. He executes the delicate art of weaving in a deep moral lesson with an intricate story without it seeming obviouos. The thoughts and questions that he brings up are astounding.

What authors have you discovered this year? Have you read any of mine?

End of the Year Read-a-Thon 12/16/13: Movie Cast

End of the Year Read-a-Thon 12/16/13: Movie Cast 

 

Dec. 16 Movie cast challenge--pick any book read in 2013, and create a real life cast of characters--post links. Hosted by Alex @ BookChick

Can I just tell people how much I cheated on this challenge? I had to go to YouTube to figure out my thoughts, which is doubly bad because it's supposed to be my dream cast, which I suppose means my own, but I do admit that my dream could have been influenced by other peoples. Anyway onto my cast of the "Legend" movie by Marie Lu. Check out "Meeting Marvelous Marie Lu" to read about the current news for the upcoming actual "Legend" Movie.

June Iparis: I saw Hailee Steinfeld in "Ender's Game" and was immediately hooked with the idea of her being June. Her physical appearance is quite similar to June's and overall acting quality seems good. On the other hand I fell in love with Isabelle Furman when she was Clove in "The Hunger Games", and loved how she was small yet extremely tough, just as I imagine June to be. The shape and look of her face is also a lot like how I imagined it. Both actresses are around the correct age, and could pass for an adequate June Iparis. Wow, I'm talking about face shapes, I'm not weird at all. Weirdness aside, what do you think?  

'Day' Daniel Altan Wing: Everyone in the dream cast had older guys like Alex Pettyfer. So this is actually an original; Asa Butterfield. His eyes are to die for, and although I don't know what he would look like with long blonde hair, I think that his eyes and acting talent clearly shown in "Hugo" and "Ender's Game" state how he would be a good Day.

Anden Stavropolous: Marie Lu posted a picture of him on her Pinterest. I've never seen him in any movies and his acting could be a complete disaster but he's...just...Thomas Beaudoin.

Tess: I really don't know of any good actresses that are relatively young and look like Tess, so
G. Hannelius will just have to do.

Eden Bataar Wing: I have to admit I stole this idea, but once I saw it I was like "What the hec! He's perfect" Jared Gilmore, I watch him every single Sunday on Once Upon a Time. He's cute, sweet, little (enough) and plain perfect for Eden.

Commander Thomas Alexander Bryant: Don't we all love him and his very long title?
Joshua Bowman is handsome, but I'm pretty sure he could pull off slimy-little-over hairgreased-scumball-that-killed-his-best-friend-for-the-sake-of-obeying-the-state-of-California.

Kaede: I swear I'm crazy for having three choices for her, but they're all perfect in different ways. Abigail Breslin. Alexandra Daddario. Phoebe Tonkin. Abigail with dark hair and enough eye-liner looks totally (excuse my language) kick-ass. Alexandra Daddario has this aura around her exhibited when portraying Annabeth in "Percy Jackson" that makes her seem completely right for the part. Lastly Phoebe Tonkin has the ability to look so mysterious and a don't-mess-with-me attitude.

Captain Metias Iparis: Marie Lu has said so countless times before that she always pictured Ben Barnes as Metias in interviews and whatnot, and I could not agree more. Go Prince Caspian!

John: There's also another Narnian native I would like as a character in a "Legend" movie and that is William Mosely, otherwise known as 'Peter the Magnficent". He has the looks and hair, why not cast him?

Yesterday I was a slacker but today I fell in love with the book "Everlost" by Neal Shusterman, it is seriously one of the best plots I've read in a long time, the characters are a little lacking, but the storyline so far has been incredible.

Pages Read Today: 125
Cumulative Pages Read: 700 appx
Books Read: 2
Books Needed to Reach Goal: 5