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2015-05-11T11:07:00.003-07:00

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Author highlight Monday

2015-05-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

So, this is a new thing I'm starting. Every Monday I'm going to pick one of my favourite authors and say nice things about them. Except for when I pick an author I hate and rip them to shreds *cue evil laugh*. For today,though, I'm going to pick one of the guys that made me get into reading in the first place, so it feels like it's only right to start of with the one and only Michael Grant.

I know most people rave on about his Animorph series, but what really did it for me was GONE and BZRK. Both of those series made me go from being a light reader to becoming a full-on bookaholic. This is the most wonderfully, fantastically messed up author I know, and I love it. No other YA author can make severed limbs, organs and evil supervillains be so entertaining.

The concept of the stories are refreshing, completely different to anything I'd read until then and, honestly, to anything I've read since, and that is why I've kept this author as one of my all-time favourites. If you enjoy books that aren't afraid to go way past where YA fiction usually goes, this is the author for you. If you want the weirdest, coolest concepts in current YA fiction, pick up one of his books.

- JRD

Traveler's Gate Trilogy, Will Wight

2015-05-10T07:17:00.001-07:00

Sup.

These books aren't new, and they're not even not particularly relevant at the moment, but f*ck it. I love them. It's probably the most refreshing series I've read in the last couple of years, completely different from the typical commercial paranormal romance crap the publishers seem to be pumping out to capture more and more readers. It genuinely makes me happy that someone finally decided to go in a different direction and did a bloody good job of it. Well done, Mr. Wight.

Since this is a trilogy, I'm not going to give you a summary like I usually do, and I'll try to avoid any spoilers 'cos I'm a nice guy. Straight up review, how does that sound? Good. Ready? Set? Boom, here goes the review:

The Traveler's Gate Trilogy isn't about the 'chosen one'. It isn't about the dude who is in the prophecy to save the world and get the girl. This is about the other guy. Now, for a moment I ask you to think back to Harry Potter (if you haven't read it, and I mean read, not watched the movies, get out). Imagine the story of Neville Longbottom. He's the guy with good intentions that doesn't really do anything but has good intentions. Now imagine that Neville becomes a badass swordsman with magic powers. If you don't think that's awesome, there's something wrong with you.

Our Neville's name is actually Simon and, in my opinion, he's the best character in the book. The most inherently flawed hero of late, he's useless. But he works hard and doesn't give up, becoming the most insanely cool super hero magic dude of them all (yes, 'super hero magic dude' is a thing). The other characters worthy of mention are Leah, who also shows more and more depth as the story moves along and Alin, who is actually the chosen one. In Alin, we see a realistic chosen one, seeing how big-headed he gets and how he keeps getting smacked down by his failures. The series is realistic (well, as realistic as a fantasy novel can be), not having perfectly heroic characters and showing us the flaws that every human being has. Each character displays cowardice, overconfidence and even downright stupidity at times, which is something I personally love.

The writing was the perfect pace, the humour was there throughout, which was great, because I hate books that take themselves too seriously *cough* Twilight *cough*. The world building was absolutely fantastic, it all ties together beautifully, without any holes in the plot or contradictions. The world Wight has created is, in my opinion, the best since City of Bones, which is saying somthing, since I LOVE that series.

Anyway, I could rant on about how great this series is all day, but I think you sould go and pick it up and read it for yourself. It isn't a huge fanchise and I believe the YA community needs to get their hands on it, so go pick it up and tell your friends, you won't regret it. In fact, I'm so confident that, if you don't like it, you can punch me in the face.

Happy reading,

-JRD

The Demon Trapper's Daughter (Forsaken), by Jana Oliver

2013-08-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hello, blogosphere.

I was desperate to find a new book series to read and found myself on Goodreads, looking at my recommendations. This book instantly caught my eye and I got my hands on it a little later, devouring it in less than 24 hours. It's been a while since I had a good reading session, and it felt good to finally make up for lost time!

I'm very confused about this book due to a lot of reasons, which made this review a little hard to write. I know that people are really intense and open about their love for this, so I have a little disclaimer: IF YOU'RE A FANGIRL/FANBOY (can I say 'fanperson'? Is that a thing?) AND YOU CAN'T TAKE CRITICISM, LEAVE. NOW.

Phew. Now that I've got that out of the way, I can get on with my life. And my review. But before I do, I think you guys should know what it's about... So: Ready? Set? Boom, here goes the synopsis:

Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself—and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on...

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get—even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart—and her life?

I'm not sure what to think about this book. I'm very conflicted, and unsure whether I actually like it or not. It has some very good aspects, I can't deny that, but it has some aspects that really put me off. It isn't a bad read, far from it, but it went from greatly entertaining me to pissing me off in the turn of a page. Instead of just randomly saying stuff like I usually do, I'm going to divide everything into categories: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The good:

The basic idea and the world presented to us was very refreshing, which is something I sorely needed, finally giving me a break from books centered around horrifically love-sick teens. Instead of that, it actually focuses on the plot (shocker, I know) and makes any romance secondary to the action (cue the gasps). Good job, Jana Oliver. I appreciate that.

I also liked the fact that she put an actual effort into creating the world for her series, giving it some depth and detail, which I loved, especially the hierarchy of the demons (Ones, Threes, Geo-Fiends and so on) and the detailed (but not overly so) explanations of how to trap them, along with the rivalry between the Trappers and the Hunters, which shows some promise for the other books in the series.

Beck. Beck is the best freaking thing in the book, blowing all the other characters out of the water. He's the only one I take seriously because he actually has depth and shows some character development throughout the story. He starts off seeming to be the typical YA fiction badass but, as the story goes on, he becomes so much more. Plus, his sarcastic quips and his banter with Riley is great, bringing some much needed comic relief to the story.

The bad:

The writing is a little too slow for my taste, making the story drag along slightly. I get that sometimes you need to slow things down to create character development and add some detail and stuff, but at some points it just felt like it was fluff to meet her word target. I'm sure this writing style is great for some people, but the lack of action just isn't for me. Sorry, folks.

There was some stuff that just didn't seem coherent, like the fact that Riley could barely make her rent and bills but could afford to spend 12$ a bottle for holy water and spends all day driving around in her car when the author makes a point to repeatedly say how expensive gas is in their city. I know, I'm weirdly sensitive about this stuff, but it irritates me when the author contradicts himself (herself, in this case).

The ugly:

I liked Riley as a character, but I hated her interaction with Beck. Beck's the guy that looked after her when it all hit the fan, but she still manages to be a complete jerk to him because she had a crush on him when she was 15, which just seems childish and idiotic. She's being an idiot to the only guy who as always there for her, which seems... stupid.

Riley and Simon's relationship. Ugh. I can't take that seriously. Simon seems like a really irritating guy, with all his self-righteousness and his weird mood-swings and I just don't understand how Riley puts up with it. It's like: HELLO, BECK'S RIGHT THERE, STOOPID. They fall in love a little too quickly for it to be realistic, but all YA fiction does that, so I can't complain.

Anyway, this is the end of my review, and I'm really awkward with endings. So, um, bye. Peace out.

Happy reading,

- JRD.

The Larten Crepsley Saga, Darren Shan

2013-08-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Hello, blogosphere.

Now, it's no secret that I'm a die-hard Shanster, and I've loved every book of his I've read, this series being no exception. I was a little concerned about it, because it's a prequel of one of my all-time favourite sagas (the Darren Shan saga), which I grew up with. I can imagine the pressure Mr. Shan was under: if these books weren't as good as the previous (next? Whatever, you know what I mean) one, he'd have a load of disappointed fans and a mailbox full of angry letters. Good thing that it not only lived up to my expectations, but exceeded them.

I could rave about the series for ages, but before I start to bore you with my waffling, I thought maybe you'd like to know a little about what they're about! I'll give you the synopsis of the first book and will avoid any spoilers (I've had to go through this review loads of times to make sure I didn't give anything away). Anyway: Ready? Set? Boom, here goes the synopsis:

When Larten escapes the terrible workhouse in which he toils, he doesn’t know that he is running from an early death… into another kind of transformation. After meeting the mysterious vampire Seba Nile while sheltering for the night in a crypt, Larten finds himself drawn into the shadowy world of the vampire Clan. As he travels and learns, Larten finds himself enjoying the adventure he has always dreamed of, seeing a world beyond any he suspected in his poverty-stricken youth. But Larten begins to discover something else, too. Much like death, becoming a vampire is something you can’t come back from…

If you're expecting Twilight or Dracula, you're going to be sorely disappointed. The vampires in this series and sparkly and tortured, but nor are they sharply-dressed and suave. Much like humans, we find many different types of vampires amongst their ranks: some of them drink heavily, gamble and womanize while others live by strict codes of honour. I greatly appreciated this, because it made the whole thing more believable (you know, apart from the fact that they're vampires) and therefore more enjoyable.

I loved Larten Crepsley long before I read this saga, and I know I'm not the only one. Crepsley has been one of every Shanster's favourite characters due to his complexity, wit and overall mysteriousness. It has been great experience to read this saga a few years after finishing the previous (next? again, you know what I mean) one, answering a lot of questions and rounding off the story of an incredible character.

The novels tell the story of the coming of age of a vampire, with over two hundred years of self-doubt, being confused and occasional aimless wandering until the vampire is finally at ease with himself. Because the time that the novels cover is so large, there are a few jumps, several years at a time, but thankfully they don't detract from the overall storyline. If Shan were to cover everything that happened in Larten's life, it would take a hell of a lot more than four books!

Even though these books come before the Darren Shan Saga, I'd recommend you read them in the order that they were written in, or you'd be depriving yourself of the pleasure of recognizing names in the prequels. It's great, from the reader's point of view, to be able to smile at yourself when you're introduced to characters that you knew from before (or after? This is starting to get really confusing...). Shan has really hit the nail on the head ith this series, and has satisfied the needs of a fandom that needed one last dose of Crepsley.

The series ended beautifully, in true Shan style, without any of the disappointment that lots of authors create with their way of wrapping up their sagas. A truly heart-wrenching finale that leaves any Shan fan loving the character of Larten Crepsley even more than they already did. I know I'm gushing but I really loved these books, and I'm looking forward to devouring whatever Darren Shan publishes next!

If you haven't already: do yourself and read these books. Seriously.

4.5/5

Happy reading,

- JRD.

Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card

2013-08-12T11:46:00.001-07:00

Hello, people of Earh.

So I read 'Ender's Game' recently because of all the hype it's been getting, with the movie coming out and all. See, I like to read the book before I see it's cinematic adaptation, because I watched the movie before reading the book once before and was severely disappointed, not knowing that the book was actually epic (it's Percy Jackson, by the way. I'm looking at YOU, Chris Columbus). I watched that like a year ago, and I'm still pissed off about it.

So, yeah. I read Ender's game. Great read. Seriously good: great storyline, badass characters and fast, action-packed pace. I'm a fan, and I can't wait for the movie to come out (oh, and Harrison Ford is going to be in it, making it even more awesome). So, before I ramble on about the book, I'll let you who haven't read it get an idea about what it's about. Ready? Set? Boom, here goes the synopsis:

In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister.

Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world.

I was pretty hesitant about reading this book for two reasons: first, because it's 25 years old and second, because I'm not that keen on science-fiction. This book may have changed my opinion on the latter, though. Despite being a book about children playing battle up in space, this book has quickly become one of my personal favorites.

Some people are put off because of the age of the characters, but that's irrelevant to the storyline, all that matters is the theme they're being used to convey: what are human beings capable of doing for the "greater good"? The whole story revolves around this theme, with the main character, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin being highly conflicted and constantly waging psychological battles with himself.

The idea was brilliant, I loved it. The whole battle-room atmosphere and the competition between the kids at Battle School is a greatly refreshing idea, making it an exceptional read. I know that there are loads of YA novels set in schools (Variant, Harry Potter, Hex Hall...), but the concept was original enough to make it seem like a completely different way of going about YA fiction. No sappy love story, no paranormal romance, nothing to detract from the action and the break-neck pace of the story. Beautiful.

We find some wonderfully complex characters in the novel, my personal favorite being Peter Wiggin, Ender's slightly sociopathic brother who shows the most character development in the book. I love how he goes from being a power-crazed moron to becoming a halfway decent guy. Well played, Orson Scott Card. Well played.

The only problem I had with this book was the fact that the author is a complete and utter dick. I love his books, and I think he's an amazing author, but his obnoxious rants against homosexuality really put me off him as a person. I know a lot of people boycott his books because of that, but I can't bring myself to, because I just enjoy his books too much. I respect the fact that people do that, but I enjoy his books too much to deprive myself.

I'll be watching the movie when it comes out, and I think you guys should too (after reading the book, OF COURSE), because I don't think you should miss out on something possibly amazing. Anyway, my recommendation to you guys is to stop what you're doing right now, go and buy the book and read it as quick as you can. Seriously. Do it. Now. I'm watching.

Keep reading,

- JRD

Revamp

2013-08-07T14:08:00.001-07:00

Hello, blogosphere.

Right. As the (admittedly few) readers of my blog know, I started a blog about a year ago and started posting reviews. Unfortunately, I got lazy and the blog fizzled out, but all that is about to change. I've set all my distractions aside and have decided to finally get serious about the blog. If you're expecting serious critiques about literature, you're going to be bitterly disappointed, because this is a space for light-hearted book discussion and for people to share a laugh or two.

So basically, I wanted to let you guys know that I'm finally getting serious about this, and that I have loads of books that I'd love to review for you guys. Even though I haven't posted in a while, my passion for reading hasn't diminished, which means I've been reading avidly, inhaling tons of books in my hiatus.

Well, that's pretty much all I have to say for now, peeps. Stay awesome, guys, and wait for reviews to come!

Keep reading,

- JRD

The Host, by Stephanie Meyer

2013-06-01T07:01:00.000-07:00

Hello, internet. I know I've been gone for ages, but my (not so brief) hiatus is over, and I'm looking forward to posting some reviews. In other words: I'M BACK, BITCHES. I promise to be good this time round and hit you with some regular reviewing/ranting. I've written some already, because I know I get lazy and forget to post.

So, today I've decided to review a book that's been getting a lot of heat lately and has a massive fandom that's managed to get it made into a movie. 'The Host' is Meyer's big follow-up to her immensely popular Twilight saga and aims to fill that Twilight-shaped hole in teenage girls hearts worldwide. I won't go as far as to say that this book was bad, but it didn't match up to my expectations.

The concept, I must say, is awesome. The idea of a planet Earth that has been taken over by an alien species that call themselves 'souls' is brilliant, but I don't think it was used as well as it could have been. Too much attention was diverted to the Twilight-esque love triangle and it detracted from the overall impact of the novel. I get that the fans were crying out for another Edward and Jacob, but as a guy who isn't a Twilight fan I was slightly let down by it.

I can overlook the concept and the love triangle because, fair enough, it's what sells and that's what's important, right? Fair enough. The thing that killed the book for me was the protagonist. I desperately wanted a strong protagonist, someone that the reader really roots for. Someone like Katniss of Tris may have been too much to ask for, but it would have been nice for Wanda to have some sort of conviction. Instead, I got Bella Swan with a few flashes of determination from Melanie which stopped the second Jared came into the room. Sorely let down by that.

I don't like Jared's character either, to be honest. I find him quite one-dimensional and irritating. Doc and Ian, on the other hand, were both my favourite characters, the proverbial spark of hope in an otherwise mediocre novel. I loved the fact that they weren't as heartless as everyone else, and their transition from hating to liking (or loving) Wanda was gradual rather than sudden (as is Jared's case).

All in all, a cool concept, an okay storyline (if a little slow) and a protagonist I couldn't bring myself to like. It's not a bad read, but it's a book to pass the time, it has no real impact. If you're a Twilight fan, though, this is the book for you, and may still the pain in your heart with another dose of Meyer.

5.5/10

Keep reading,

JRD.

Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

2013-02-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

I was bored last weekend, so I decided to pick up the 'Caster Chronicles' and see what all the hype was about. It was basically a book I picked up to kill some time, and I'm afraid that that may be all that it's good for. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but I felt it lacked the depth of some of its more, shall we say, better YA counterparts.

The story was well thought-out and entertaining, but in the way an action movie is entertaining: with loads of flashing lights and loud noises but not actually saying anything. You come out of the theater having enjoyed yourself, but not having actually gained anything from the experience. That's what this book was like for me.

It just saddens me that such a cool concept was put second to an extremely cliché YA romance. Ethan and Lena's relationship is frighteningly stereotypical, and I don't mean that in the good way. They fall in love in what seems like five minutes, and they are completely and utterly passionate about each other ever since. So much so that they're willing to die for each other. I mean, give me a break.

I have to say, though, that there's good stuff too. I liked Ridley and I thought Link was awesome, making their relationship even cooler. They were the only characters in the novel that brought any comic relief into it, and I'm pretty sure that without them the book would be crap. Like, one star.

I found it peculiar that the book was written by to female co-authors and yet they chose to write it through the eyes of a teenaged boy, and I'm afraid they just didn't quite manage to pull it off. There's just something off about him, and I can't quite manage to put my finger on it.

Anyway, I'm going to read the second book in case it gets any better. If it doesn't, I'm warning you, you can expect a scathing review. I won't be as nice about it as I have been about this one.

Variant, by Robinson Wells GUEST REVIEW.

2013-01-30T12:33:00.000-08:00

Hello! This week I decided to spare you guys from my writing, so I asked my fellow bloggy people Rachel and Megan over at 'Read.Write.Ramble' to write a guest review for the blog! It's one of my personal favorite book blogs so, if you guys haven't seen it yet, go now. Or after reading the review. Whatevs. Click here and prepare for much book awesomeness (and a side of epic fangirling).

Just for the record, I thought this book was awesome too! Anyway enough from me, here goes the review:

Rachel: This is one of those books that I think deserves so much more attention than it gets. It seems to have flown under the radar since it was released, and I would love to see it gain more readers. Variant is strange and creepy and action-packed, and I wish more people would appreciate its awesomeness.

Megan: Definitely! This book had me feeling so paranoid! Picture living in a boarding school where there are no adults, but cameras watch your every move and punishment means not eating for two days. Sounds kind of terrible right? I've always wanted to go to a boarding school, but I most definitely do NOT want to go to Maxfield Academy.

Rachel: The absence of adults in this book is so weird. There are so many YA books where the parents/teachers/etc are just kind of in the background or whatever, but there are no adult characters in Variant. The students at the school are left to do everything by themselves--they even have to teach themselves--while a bunch of powerful people they don't even know control everything about their lives.

Megan: Yeah, you would think that having no adults around would be awesome and the school would turn into one giant party, but NO. Anyway, some of my favorite scenes in the book were the paint ball games. They were just really intense and I loved the fact that Benson basically had no clue what he was doing, because let's be honest, if I was forced to play paint ball, that would totally be me!

Rachel: Ooh, yes! The paint ball games were really cool. In the beginning of the book, it seems like there isn't going to be much action or anything. You think the book is just going to be about a bunch of kids going to school and whatever. But the paint ball games are introduced pretty early on, and they provide some SUPER INTENSE ACTION that I totally wasn't expecting.

Megan: I really liked how everything about this book was unexpected. As soon as Benson started to kind of settle in and get used to everything and he started to think he understood how things were going to work, BAM. Something else happens that completely changes everything. It completely left me guessing because there were so many of those moments, right up until the end of the book.

Rachel: There were crazy plot twists throughout the entire book. Even the last page had something totally unexpected. Reading Variant was such a weird experience. I literally had NO idea what the next sentence/page/chapter would bring.

Megan: The ending definitely left me wanting to read the sequel. My reaction to it was basically "What the heck is happening and what did I just READ?" I can't say this book made me want to go to a boarding school any less, but I definitely wouldn't consider going to Maxfield Academy. There's some weird stuff that goes on there.

Rachel: Yeah, seriously. Like, congrats Robison Wells on writing the CREEPIEST BOOK EVER. I was totally freaked out and unsettled the whole time I was reading this. Which might not sound all that great, but let me assure you, it was AWESOME.

Megan: So basically, if you haven't read Variant yet, what are you waiting for?

Hush, Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick

2013-01-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

I have mixed feelings about this one, guys. I'd heard a lot about it, and there were some good reviews and some bad ones, so I thought "what the hell?". I want to get this straight before I begin. It wasn't a terrible book, it was just sorely lacking in some aspects. Lets just say it isn't very high up on my recommendations list and leave it at that. What I also heard a lot was that it was a rip-off of the Twilight saga. I get where you're coming from, but I don't really think that they were all that similar.

Before I do my review, I thought you might like to know what the book is actually about, so here goes the synopsis:

A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

How about we start with the good? Yeah, I think that's a good idea.

The writing was pretty good, I have to say. It isn't overly descriptive, it's pretty fluid and it kept the unimportant details to the minimum. All traits that I look for in a book, so I'm happy with that, no complaints. The main pro to me is the front cover and the concept. I mean, fallen angels fighting a war as old as time itself? Sounds like an epic story is about to unfold. I loved the fact that the front cover didn't show Patch's face, because I hate when books do that. I mean, LET ME IMAGINE MY CHARACTERS, FOR GOD'S SAKE. So yeah, cool cover.

I liked Vee, for some strange reason. I know a lot of people hate her because she's superficial or whatever, but that's the whole point of her character. She was actually my favourite character in the book because, aside from Patch's occasional Jace-y sarcastic remarks, she was the only person who brought any comic relief to the book.

And now: the bad.

The characters seemed extremely stereotypical to me. I'm sorry, but Patch is basically a cross between Edward Cullen and Jace (Wayland? Herondale? Lightwood? Whatever.), only more irritating and less awesome at fighting (I'm talking about Jace here, my knowledge of Edward doesn't extend further than what I hear people fangirl about). Honestly, who hasn't used a character that's basically a tortured, extremely good-looking bad boy with a supernatural flair? It's getting old, people.

Nora. I have nothing to say. I just don't like her. She's missing substance and personality, I mean, she hates Patch one moment and then, all of a sudden, falls straight into his arms? Ah, is it were only that easy... She can't make a decision without second-guessing herself about twenty times, which is extremely irritating. Also, for a person who claims she hates lying and is terrible at it, she sure does it a lot.

And finally: the ugly.

Nora and Patch's relationship. I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. They go from Patch teasing her to being desperately in love in what seems like days. And when I say desperately in love, I don't mean it in a giving each other stupid nickname kind of way, I mean it in a "I'd die for you" kind of way. It seems like Fitzpatrick needed a strong relationship but couldn't be bothered to put in the work to actually put in the necessary emotional investment.

The twist at the end was pretty bad too. I'm sorry, but everyone saw that coming. If you have a character that is constantly quiet, brooding and disappears at key moments when all the bad stuff goes down, you know something's up. Let's try and make it a little more unexpected next time.

I started reading the second book in the series, but I'm afraid it actually gets worse, and so I've decided to give up on the series. If you're into mindless romance and cheesy violence, go ahead and read it. But remember: I warned you.

Happy reading,

-JRD

Zom-B: Underground

2013-01-12T07:36:00.001-08:00

SORRYSORRYSORRYSORRYSORRY! I know, I've been terrible, but I've had loads of stuff with school, uni applications and family stuff. But I'm back now. Because it's been forever since my last post, I've decided to come back with a real treat for you guys.

As you guys may or may not know, Darren Shan is one of my all-time favourite authors, and I've grown up reading his Cirque du Freak and Demonata series. So, you can probably imagine how excited I was when he announced he was writing another series called Zom-B. I assume I don't have to explain to you what it's about.

The first book was simply called Zom-B, and was centered around zombie attacks occurring in London and what happened to the main character, nicknamed "B". I'm not going to tell you any more about this book, because if I give away anything else the twists will be revealed and you will hate me for it. If you haven't read the first one, stop reading NOW. Trust me. Go, read it, and come back here. I'll wait for you, I promise. GO AWAY.

Hello, people that stayed. I don’t know if you’ve actually read the first book or if you ignored me. But whatevs. Many first books spoilers to come. But before I start gushing over Shan’s new book, let’s find out what it’s about. Ready? Set? Boom, here goes the synopsis:

Waking up in a military complex, months after zombies attacked school, B has no memory of the last few months. Life in the UK has turned tough since the outbreak, and B is woven into life- and battle- in the new military regime quickly. But as B learns more about the zombies held in the complex and the scientists keeping them captive, unease settles in. Why exactly was B saved? And is there anyone left in the world to trust?

Right, so I finished reading this book literally ten minutes ago, and I wanted to write my review as soon after as possible, because I didn’t want to forget any of the cool bits. I was left reeling by both of the twists in Zom-B, especially the one at the end. I was all like “HE JUST KILLED THE PROTAGONIST! WHAT?” which, I’m sure, is exactly the reaction he wanted to get. But, of course, she wasn’t really dead. Well, she was, but not in the way you think. Confused, much? Let me clear that up for you.

Basically, B has turned into a totally badass zombie. But she’s not a mindless beast like the rest of them, because she regains her consciousness. The name given to this kind of zombies is ‘revitalized’ or ‘Zom-head’. She’s exactly the same person as she was in the first book (well, aside from the fact that she now has fangs, a gaping hole in her chest and razor-sharp bones sticking out of her fingers).
In the first book, I hated B. I think Shan took the task of creating a character no one liked and making them like her anyway upon himself. She used to be a racist, violent bigot. Granted, this was because of her father’s influence, but I couldn’t help disliking her intensely. After reading this book, though, I just can’t anymore. I hate to admit this, but Shan really has managed to redeem the character!

I challenge anyone to start reading this book and stop halfway through. It’s physically impossible. The breakneck pace and the fascinating storyline just make the reader keep turning the pages, intrigued as to what is going to happen next. It’s completely action-packed and gory, and I recommend it to all readers who are out there. Well, if you’re scared of clowns maybe you should think twice about it (look at the cover of Zom-B: City. Yes, that's an eye on his nose).

I don’t want to give the ending away, but let’s just say that zombies aren’t the worst things B is going to find herself faced with in this new world she finds herself in. Two books in to the series, and I’m already hooked. Shan has a gift; he’s one of the only authors than can keep the twists fresh and unexpected, making the reader question everything every step of the way. I love it. Go get it and read it, people. Seriously.

Keep reading,

-JRD

I know, I've been a terrible blogger lately...

2012-12-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, guys, I know what you're thinking. The last actual book review I posted was aaaages ago. I'M SORRY. I'm so sorry I'm going to show you my sorriness in gif form, which is a big thing for me.

But that all ends now! My exams have finished, I have no projects due and no NaNo to distract me! (even though I failed epically at it). So basically, I'm reading all sorts of books, and should have loads of books reviewed really soon! This is basically me right now:

So, um, yeah! I'm almost finished on 'The Rise of Nine', by Pitticus Lore, and will probably have a review up by tomorrow or the day after!

Oh, and I just broke 1500 views! YAY! I know, it's not really impressive, but it's a milestone fo my blog! So, to all of you who read my blog:

Okay then. I will see you guys soon, I promise. No more weeks on end without any posts, honestly. BYE.

Keep reading,

- Jai

Why do I love YA?

2012-12-01T04:18:00.000-08:00

Before we begin: YES: I MISSED THE DEADLINE FOR THIS POST. YES: I'M EXTREMELY PISSED OFF ABOUT IT. But you know what? I'm going to do the post anyway. I know there's no point in doing it after the deadline, but whatevs.

I love YA fiction because it's awesome. It's impossible not to like YA, and whoever says they don't like it just hasn't found the right book yet. I mean, I get that Twilight isn't for everyone, but how about not giving up straight after that? Why not pick up a copy of Harry Potter? Or The Hunger Games? I'm lucky, because the first YA books I read was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (when I was six, it took me like a month of intense reading to finish it).

The thing is, I love other genres too. I think Jeffrey Archer, John Grisham, Robert Ludlum and Sidney Sheldon are all incredible writers. But, let's face it, no one can relate to Jason Bourne. When you read about Simon in TMI, you're like "Yeah! That could be me!" (y'know, apart from the fact that he's a badass vampire now). You get my point.

Once I expanded from J.K. Rowling into people like Christopher Paolini, Michael Grant and Darren Shan I realized that the world of YA is much bigger than I could have possibly imagined. Now, what seems like a bajillion years (actually 11, 'cos I'm 17) and even more books later, I'm still going strong, devouring books as fast as I possibly can. And I intend to keep it that way.

For all you non-readers out there: Pick up a book, for god's sake. It's really a lot better than it looks. Maybe, instead of spending ten hours a day playing Call of Duty or kicking a ball about, you could actually read and learn something fore once in your lives. (I'm looking at YOU, jocks). If you don't know what to pick up, come check out my recommendation tab, or go and check out other blogs! There's a load of people out there who love to read, and you guys should really give it a try.

Now, for all you readers out there: I love you guys. Honestly. DFTBA.

I'm pretty much done here so, um, bye.

Keep reading,

-JRD.

Best quotes of YA fiction

2012-11-11T14:15:00.000-08:00

Well, as you might have noticed, I'm pretty bored today, and so I've had time to do two posts! Yay. Okay, well, this post is basically just a list of some of the best quotes in YA fiction that I've had the pleasure of coming across. Yep, not much more to say. Let's begin.

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”

-J.R.R Tolkein, The Fellowship of the Ring.

“We accept the love we think we deserve.”

-Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

“It takes much bravery to stand up to our enemies but we need as much bravery to stand up to our friends.”

-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

“Not everything is about you," Clary said furiously.
"Possibly," Jace said, "but you do have to admit that the majority of things are.”

-Cassandra Clare, City of Glass.

“Not my daughter, you bitch!”

-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (THIS ONE IS THE MOST BESTEST ONE EVAH).

“Basically, I have two speeds.... Hostile or smart-aleck. Your choice.”

-James Patterson, Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

“Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us!”

-Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

I know, there's millions more, but I think I'm going to make this into a regular thing. Yep, once a week I'm going to write a post about cool quotes I come across. Feel free to tweet me some or whatever. That's pretty much all I have to say.

Happy reading,

JRD.

Zom-B, Darren Shan

2012-11-10T14:10:00.000-08:00

Hello, people of Earth. I know, I promised you this review last week, but I've been busy with school and stuff (unfortunately not NaNoWriMo), so I've only been able to post it today. Actually, I think I might just give up on NaNo, since I'm like 10,000 words behind. Ugh. School sucks.

I know a lot of you guys are probably apprehensive about reading a book about zombies, but fear not, this one is worth reading. I was weirded out by that too, but because I'm a die-hard Darren Shan fan, I soldiered on and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Well played, shanster, well played. Well, before I keep going, I think you might want to get a better idea of what it's about, so here goes:

Zom-B is a radical new series about a zombie apocalypse, told in the first person by one of its victims. The series combines classic Shan action with a fiendishly twisting plot and hard-hitting and thought-provoking moral questions dealing with racism, abuse of power and more. This is challenging material, which will captivate existing Shan fans and bring in many new ones. As Darren says, "It's a big, sprawling, vicious tale...a grisly piece of escapism, and a barbed look at the world in which we live. Each book in the series is short, fast-paced and bloody. A high body-count is guaranteed!"

Darren Shan is a freaking genius. the Demonata series and the Darren Shan saga were already so awesome, I thought he was all tapped out of talent. I was wrong. It's completely different than the other two, but in a good way.

The story is brutal, and the brutality of it is enhanced by the shortness of it. It's under 200 pages long, and it feels like even less than that. And the twists. THE TWISTS, PEOPLE. After the first one, I completely flipped. I didn't know what the hell was happening, and lots of heavy breathing ensued. this book isn't for the faint hearted, if you're easily scared or grossed-out run far, far away from this book.

The writing is incredible. Basically, this book is about people getting killed and stuff, so you don't want the author to go slow, you want him to create a constantly action-packed scenario, and that's exactly what he does. No over-description, no character development (apart from the protagonist's), which is good, because everyone keeps dying, which eliminates the need for character depth in anyone but the one the story revolves around.

Shan creates a protagonist that is incredibly hard to like. I, for one, actually despise B, and it's quite refreshing to have an anti-hero in YA fiction at last. The thing is, B's dad is a bigot and a racist, which rubs off on her, making her pick on black kids at her school. There reaches a point where B's dad actually says that he doesn't care if the zombies kill the foreigners, which disgusts me, but it's incredibly effective for the author's purposes, which is tackling these issues.

All in all, I thought this story was really good and an incredible start to what will be a 12-book series, and I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the books. I'm not actually reading anything now, but I will find something as soon as I can and will post a review when I can! By next week, I'll have posted something random (I dunno, a list or something). Yup that's pretty much it. Keep reading, people.

Happy reading,

JRD.

EVE AND ADAM, Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

2012-11-04T14:27:00.000-08:00

Before I write this review, I'd like to express something. I LOVE Michael Grant. He is one of the most awesomest coolest writers in the world and I think his books are amazing.

Scratch that. Most of his books are amazing.

I've been waiting for EVE AND ADAM for ages, and I was really psyched when I finally got my hands on it. I was expecting an incredible book, with a breathtaking story and fantastic characters. I was sorely mistaken.

This isn't a bad book, far from it. But the thing is, I expect only the best from someone of Michael Grant's calibre (I don't know about Katherine Applegate, because I haven't read any of her books before), and so a book that is mediocre just doesn't cut it. I'd probably give this book like a six out of ten, which means it's far from terrible, but when you're expecting an eleven it's quite sad. *le sigh*

Anyway, here goes the synospsis and stuff:

In the beginning, there was an apple—

And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.

Just when Eve thinks she will die—not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy.

Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect... won’t he?

Okay, I hate writing a negative review about one of my favourite writers, so let's just make it quick and painless. This is the kind of book that you forget about in a week. It's all right to kill some time, but it's not something you're going to buy in hardback and keep on your shelf or wherever it is you keep your books (unlike the Grant's GONE series, which is freaking incrredible). If you have nothing to do one evening, go ahead and read it, but it's really not worth much more than that.

Right, how about I hit you with the list of stuff I didn't like? Here goes:

The writing style just didn't work for me. I'm the first to admit that long, drawn out descriptions suck, but leaving everything to imagination doesn't work either, which is exactly what Grant did. Just not enough description.

There are like a bajillion two-word sentences in this book, which makes me nervous. I think that the objective was to make it a quicker read, which it did, but the fact tha you have to stop and start every handful of words is just downright annoying.

The misplaced sexualisation. I mean, come on, is it really necessary to have a kidnapper saying that he would "do" the girl who he's kidnapping who, incidentally, is young enough to be his daughter? Just... Euch. It kills the tension and creeps me out.

Noah falls in love after having a grand total of, like, three conversation with Eve. Need I say why this is negative point? It's unrealistic and the reader simply can't find it believable.

The characters don't have enough depth to them, they're one-dimensional, which is a flaw that I, for one, can't overlook. Exceptional characters are necessary to make an exceptional story and, since the characters in this aren't exceptional, the story isn't either.

This pretty much wraps up the review. I'd just like to say, in the unlikely event that Mr. Grant reads this, that I'm not questioning his ability as an author. I know he's an exceptionally talented author, which is why I find the fact that this story is so heavily flawed unacceptable. Anyway, pick it up if you want to kill some time, but you might as well watch a movie, to be honest.

I will be back some time this week with a review of Zom-B, by Darren Shan, which is interesting to say the very least. But I'm going to have to say goodbye for now.

Happy reading,

JRD.

PS: I HATE Adam, I don't know why, I just do. Some people may think I'm jealous of his perfect looks, but NO. OKAY MAYBE.

NaNoWriMo 2012 begins!

2012-11-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

Okay guys, I don't know if you know this but every year there's this writing competition called National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), in which you have to complete a 50,000 word novel in a month (november). Anyway, I'm doing it this year and so posts this month will be slightly difficult to do. I'll try my best to get some done, but don't hold your breath.

The thing is, between school and NaNo, I'm going to go into house arrest and I'm going to spend most of my waking hours writing. If you're reading this and enjoy writing, you should enter! It's a lot of work and stress, but when you finish you're like "OH YES I AM A WRITING GOD. RANDOM PENGUIN HOUSE BETTER TAKE ON MY BOOK, LIKE, NOW." I've only just started, but I went on a crazy writing spree earlier today and have written 2,000 words, because that's just how I roll.

My book's basically YA paranormal/fantasy, starting off similar to a 21st century Oliver Twist and then goes all weird. I won't specify any more because, to be honest, I haven't really decided where I'm going with it yet. I'm not one to write plans or story lines, I just start writing and see where it goes. My English teacher hates that. Anyway, yeah, that's pretty much it!

Oh! By the way, add me as your buddy! I'm Jai_RD.

Happy writing,

JRD.

Top 10 fictional crushes

2012-10-21T10:38:00.001-07:00

Hello!

The title pretty much says all you have to know about this post so, um, yeah. You know how girls are always like "OMG I loooove Jace/Edward/Four!"? Well we guys have fictional crushes too, and it's time to make a stand and show all of you who they are. *cue dramatic music*

1: Isabelle Lightwood (The Mortal Instruments)

She's a hot, badass demon-killing supah freak. What isn't there to like? Her character just keeps getting better and better with each book. What can I say? I'm in love.

2: Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson series)

I know I said in my Mark of Athena review that she knocked Izzy off the top of the list, but upon further reflection I've decided she's a close second. Beautiful, tough and scary-smart. She's amazing.

3: Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

Okay, I admit that I'm pretty biased because EMMA FREAKING WATSON plays her, but her character is pretty awesome too. Ron is one lucky guy.

4: Sam "Don't remember her surname" (The Perks)

She's chilled, fun to be with and doesn't take life too seriously. Since Charlie describes her through his subjective point of view, we can't know if she's really as gorgeous as he makes her out to be. Not that that makes much of a difference.

5: Tris (Divergent series)

She has got to be one of the most badass females in all of YA fiction, and me likey. Me likey a lot. I love the fact that she's always going through some sort of emotional meltdown but she still somehow manages to kick butt at the same time.

6: Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games Trilogy)

Do I even have to say why? I didn't think so.

7: Clary Fray (The Mortal Instruments)

She's less feminine than Izzy, but she still has a certain charm that makes all the guys around her swoon. Even her brother attempts to make out with her (disturbing, I know).

8: Astrid (The GONE series)

The reason she's so far down on the list is because of the fact that half of the time she's having a manic episode, which isn't so attractive. But when she's her normal self, she's cool, calm, collected and full-on awesome.

9: Arya (Eragon)

She's a hot, 100-year-old elf, which is weird, but she's pretty cool too. Powerful magical creatures have that effect on me (the fact that she's female helps).

10: Maximum Ride (The Maximum Ride series)

Let me specify. This is ONLY in the first three books. You know when she's a sarcastic bad-ass fighter? Then. Not when she turns into a whiney excuse for what she used to be. Oh, what James Patterson did to her... *sigh*.

That's pretty much it! If you agree, disagree or have anyone else to add, let me know by commenting below, messaging me on twitter or by email! DFTBA.

School reading? Really? GTFO.

2012-10-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Before I start, I want to get things straight. This is not a review, it's a rant. Okay then, now I've got that out of the way I'm going to start.

Last week my English class got an assignment which consisted in reading a book and then doing a PowerPoint presentation on it. (Themes, genre, storyline, all the usual kind of stuff). So there I am, mentally high-fiving myself while my barely literate classmates groan in despair, making brilliant comments such as "No, but really, what's the point of reading?" No joke. One of them actually said that.

So while I was staring at him incredulously, waiting for him to realize how immensely stupid he is, the teacher started handing out a list of books we're allowed to read. Again, shocking. How o you expect youngsters to take up reading when you force them to read books like 1984, by George Orwell? I mean, no offense, I'm sure he was a great guy and all, but that book? *YAWN*

I really can't understand how these teachers' minds work. They think that by making us read the most boring books on earth we'll suddenly become interested in reading. Honestly. When I suggested thy add The Great Gatsby to the list, she just laughed and said it wasn't the type of books she wanted us to read. Is it me or did she just diss Gatsby? Hold me back, someone. It's accepted as one of the most well-written and influential literary pieces of the age, and yet she doesn't want us to read it. Idiot.

I don't get school reading. I mean, whoever likes reading is just going to get bores, and whoever doesn't isn't going to read it and is just going to look up the summary online. It's lose-lose. I can't decide if they make us do this because they think we're weirdos that actually enjoy these books or because they haven't read anything that's been written in the 21st century. Since my strict moral reader's code prevents me from looking for book summaries, I'm going to have to read it. It's going to be slow and excrutiatingly painful. I can feel it in my bones.

Anyway, I'm sure you've got better things to do than to keep listening (reading?) to me rambling on about how much school reading irritates me, so I'm going to stop now. I hope all you people who don't have school reading know how lucky you are. I envy you. Go and read something good for me, will ya?

Happy reading,

JRD

The Mark of Athena, Rick Riordan

2012-10-06T14:08:00.001-07:00

I've been waiting for this book for a year. A WHOLE FREAKING YEAR. And I finished it today. I don't know if any of you guys have ever waited for a book for so long (all you Harry Potter lovers know what I mean), but the expectations get high. By October 2nd, I was expecting Rick Riordan to come out with the best book in the series, and that's exactly what he did. This was the darkest, twistiest book in the Heroes of Olympus series, but it was also the best. And that's saying something. For all of you who don't know this, this series if basically my reason for existing, and I'm desperately in love with Annabeth Chase, even more so after this book.

We have seven main characters in this book. Seven. For an author to keep them all equally important and interesting is no mean feat. Rick Riordan is so incredibly epic because he's the only author (that I know of) to have done this successfully. I love every single one of them, even the new guys, which is hard, because Percy and Annabeth are my favorite literary couple of all time. I'm not sure you understand how amazing this is. UNCLE RICK IS AWESOME. I have kind of a love/hate relationship with him, though, because I have to wait another YEAR for the House of Hades *sobs uncontrollably*. In classic Uncle Rick style, he's ended the book in the most heart-wrenching way possible. Emotions.

So anyway, before I dazzle all of you with my incredible wit as I review the book, I'd better look over what it's about. Ready? Set? Boom, here goes the synopsis (goodreads):

Annabeth is terrified. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that’s only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close— the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth’s biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he’s now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare. . . .

In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?

The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophesy remains a mystery. . . . With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan.

As I said, this is the best book in the series. You can disagree, of course, everyone has a right to their opinion, but just know that you're wrong. Percabeth is reunited, your argument is invalid. It may seem sappy and not manly at all, but it really was great to see them together again. Oh, and *SPOILER ALERT* when they fall into Tartarus together, holding hands, I have to say I teared up a little (in a very manly way, of course).

My favorite character in the book is Leo Valdez by a long way. I mean, he's hilarious and cool and awesome. That Team Leo thing he does with Narcissus had me cracking up! The best part about him, though, is the fact that he's a multi-dimensional character, because beneath that shield of pure, unadulterated awesome, we know he's pretty insecure, being the "seventh wheel" and stuff. The poor guy gets messed around big-time with the eidolons and Nemesis and whatnot, and I really hope he catches a break in the next book.

Annabeth's awesomeness increases to the power of a bajillion in this book. We knew she was smart and brave from before, but we see to what extent she really is smart and brave in her solo quest. Oh, before I forget, I wanted to say how cool I found all those mini-quests the groups went on, because we got to know the characters a lot better and the relationships they have are better explored. The relationship between Percy and Jason and Frank and Leo is basically the same: their rivalry turns into a grudging bromance in the end, and all is well. Apart from the fact that Percy and Annabeth are in TARTARUS *wails*.

Right, back to Annabeth. I'm in love. That's pretty much it. She's officially knocked Izzy Lightwood off the number one spot on my fictional crush list. She's ahead of Hermione Granger. HERMIONE. FREAKING. GRANGER. Stop to think about it. Guys, you understand me.

The plot is incredible, the writing flows beautifully, and it just works. You know those books where everything just seem to click together? This is one of them. I just can't find anything wrong with it. It's quite possibly my favorite read of the year, and now I resume my seemingly constant, painful wait for the next Riordan book. *sigh*

So, yeah, in case you didn't notice, I love this book. If you haven't started the series yet, don't. If you see it in a bookstore run far, far away. It's just too painful. Too many emotions and too much awesome for a normal mortal. Don't say I didn't warn you. I'm off to wallow in self pity and wonder what happened now.

Happy reading,

JRD.

The Secret History, Donna Tartt

2012-10-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Hey there, my little ficlovers! (Yes, you're right, I tried to make a little fandom for myself. It's pretentious and lame. ME LIKEY.) It's been ages since I posted and so, to make up for lost time, I'm going to review one of the the MOST AWESOMELY AWESOME BOOKS TO EXIST. So yeah, it's pretty good. It's called "The Secret History" and it was written like 20 years ago by a woman called Donna Tartt. Anyway, so I'd better tell you what it's about before I get going. So... Ready? Set? Boom, here goes the synopsis:

Richard Papen arrived at Hampden College in New England and was quickly seduced by an elite group of five students, all Greek scholars, all worldly, self-assured, and, at first glance, all highly unapproachable. As Richard is drawn into their inner circle, he learns a terrifying secret that binds them to one another...a secret about an incident in the woods in the dead of night where an ancient rite was brought to brutal life...and led to a gruesome death. And that was just the beginning....

So this book starts off like "Richard study. Richard good boy." and ends like "OMG WHAT JUST HAPPENED". This may seem weird and off-putting but, I assure you, you'll be hard-pressed to find a book as good as this. And I don't just mean the actual story. You know those books where everything just seems to click? Well this is one of those. It's perfect. I'm still obsessed with it and I finished with it last week!

The story is incredible, just breathtaking. Donna Tartt's one of those sneaky authors that build up some massive plot turn behind your back, making you go from calmly reading your book and chilling out on your bed to frantically biting your nails as you swing up-side-down from the ceiling. Don't you guys just hate t when that happens? I mean, you start off lying down normally and you end up in the most complicated shapes known to man. I mean, gymnasts can't even pull that off. Who said readers don't get any exercise?

I don't want to tell you anything else about the story because I don't want to spoil anything for you, but suffice to say it's incredible. I'm moving on to writing style now. If you want to know about the story, go somewhere else, you aren't getting anything else from me. Look down, next paragraph, dude. No more story.

She's officially the author with the best writing style I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I'm sure you all have your own personal favorites, but unfortunately you're wrong. The writing just flows beautifully, it's full of metaphors, similes and other fancy stuff that makes it cool to read. No, seriously, she's FREAKING AMAZING. All my favorite writers (Rowling, Roth, Grant, Paolini, Riordan...) have great and greatly versatile writing styles, but no one compares with Tartt.

I'm finishing now. All I have left to say is buy it. BUY IT NOW. Do it. Come on, I'm watching you. It's great. Keep reading, peeps. (Oh god did I just say "peeps"?) Anyway, bye and stuff.

Happy reading,

JRD

Hex Hall, by Rachel Hawkins

2012-09-04T09:25:00.004-07:00

Top of the mornin' to ya! So, after "The Perks", I thought that I needed something lighter to read to bring my feelings back to normal. I picked u "Hex Hall". It was a good choice. *patting myself on the back*. I was looking for a cool, relaxed, feel-good kind of book, and that's exactly what I got. Don't get me wrong, it had some depth to it, but it's not a Mortal Instruments type of book (Feelings. Feelings EVERYWHERE). More of a light read.

Before I get into the review, I think you should know what the book's about, because I sincerely doubt you'd read this because of my take on Rachel Dawkins' writing style. Ready? Set? Boom, here goes the synopsis:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

This book has everything you could ask for in a book. You've got vampires (for the Twilight/Simon fans), werewolves (I know, Jacob, but I'm more of a Luke/Maia/Jordan from TMI series), shapeshifters (not seen very often, but still AWESOME), and faeries (y'know, all beautiful and snobbish). It's got quite a lot of humour in it, mostly of the dry, sarcastic kind, which I love, and the characters are pretty awesome. The murder mystery thing was cool at first, but then it got do be kind of a drag, what with everyone being like "IT WAS JENNA! WE HATE YOU, YOU KILLER VAMPIRE!" and Jenna going off and being upset. Over and over again.

I loved all the characters in this book. I know I say that a lot, but it is especially true for this one. It just felt like all the characters had a purpose, and there was none of those weird secondary characters that seem to be there just for the sake of it. They were all important in their own way, and I really liked them all. Especially Sophie. She's got to be right up their with my YA character crushes alongside Izzy (TMI), Hermione, Clary (TMI) and, um, Izzy. (I REALLY LIKE IZZY OKAY?). I left Maximum Ride out because after Nevermore she no longer has my love. Sorry.

Back to reviewing, Jai, don't get distracted.

I have absolutely no complaints about the writing style, it flowed nicely and effortlessly. The end, though. Oh dear lord. It's like, you're chilling out, reading, and all of a sudden BAM! Everything changes. Is it me or does the whole angle of the book change in, like, the last ten pages? I think Rachel Hawkins did this on purpose, just so defenceless and vulnerable readers such as myself can't help but being like "ARGHH GIMME DEMONGLASS NOW!!!" and proceed to spend our precious money on it. Well played, Hawkins, well played.

Oh, and the Archer thing, I did NOT see that coming. Well done. Oh well, that's pretty much all I have to say. I'm going back to my exciting life of waiting for my books to arrive and counting down each millisecond until Mark of Athena (28 DAYS PEOPLE!). Right, back to the review thingy. Buy it read it. Tell me what you thought on twitter, or email me, or comment below! And with this, I bid you farewell, my fellow readers.

Happy reading,

JRD.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky

2012-08-30T14:07:00.001-07:00

Hello, my fellow readers. I am aware I haven't reviewed anything in a while, but it was because I was in a reading frenzy. So don't hate me. You can expect a lot of quick-fire reviews coming up in the next few days. Now, I am going to review the book which might well be my favorite book of all time, 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower', by Stephen Chbosky. Normally I try to be a bit funny in my reviews, and I'll try in this one, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to pull it off this time. If you've read the book you'll understand why. THE EMOTIONS. As you turn the last page in this book, you feel like running out on to the street and living life to the fullest, only to realize you haven't done your homework yet.

This has definitely go to be one of my favorite books, YA or otherwise, of all time. I usually read fantasy, dystopian or paranormal, but it was refreshing to read something more realistic, something that I could relate to. I feel like this book is going to be a classic in fifty years, because it really is life-changing. It's very rare to find a genuinely meaningful book, and I thank Stephen Chbosky for writing something that moves the reader. I don't care if you're a boy or a girl, old or young, but if you read this book and you aren't moved, YOU ARE DEAD INSIDE.

Before I start going on about how freaking amazing this book is, I think you should know what it's about. Ready? Set? Boom, here goes the synopsis:

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.

This book has been getting a lot of attention lately because it has been made into a movie releasing on September 14th (I think), starring Emma Watson as Sam (OMG HERMIONE), Logan Lerman as Charlie (OMG PERCY JACKSON), and some other guy playing Patrick. I'm not going to lie to you, I didn't even know this book existed before I heard about the movie, but as soon as I heard the movie was based on a book, I bought it, because I refuse to watch a movie before reading the book. That's just how I roll. I'm very cool, I know, don't be intimidated.

The book is written as a series of letters that Charlie addresses to a "friend" whom we know nothing about. I find this quite cool, because it makes the you feel like he's writing the letters to you personally. The storyline isn't overly complicated, but it manages to convey how an adolescent struggling through high school is exposed to a new world and how he changes because of it. The character development is what makes this book what it is, because we see how Charlie and his friends change throughout the book, and this only makes them more endearing. By the time the book ends, you feel like Charlie and his friends are your friends, which just shows what a good storyteller Chbosky really is.

I can safely say that this is the best-written book I've ever had the privilege of reading. The writing style is completely flawless, and it's beautiful, there's just no other word to describe it. I've gone over this book twice just highliting the quotes, which are simply amazing. After watching the trailer, everyone knows the "And in that moment, I swear, we were infinite" quote, which is great, but there are so many others like it. An example of this is, "Charlie, we only accept the love that we think we deserve". Chills, right?

My favourite character has got to be Sam, because of how wonderfully complex she is. I love a a character who isn't one-sided, someone that can show different aspects of himself or, in this case, herself. We see a wide range of emotions, from blissful happiness to painful sadness, which helps us bond with her and identify ourselves with her. She's just an amazing character, and I think she deserved a mention in my review. (The fact that Emma Watson is playing her doesn't hurt much either).

Okay then. That's pretty much all have to say! Amazing book, and I mean AMAZING. Incredible, fantastic, [insert adjective here]... So anyway, if you haven't read this yet, get off your compute, you lazy layabout, and go an buy it. And then read it. And then tell me thought of it on twitter or by commenting below. So, yeah, that's it. Peace out.

Happy reading,

JRD

Nevermore (Maximum ride #8), James Patterson

2012-08-19T10:14:00.002-07:00

Okay, I want to tell you guys something before I start. In my humble opinion, Nevermore was the second-to-worst book in the entire Maximum Ride series, after The Final Warning. I just didn't like it. So most of this review is going to be a rant, and then I'll calm down and coherently talk about the good, the bad, and the meh. JP, you broke my heart, man, you really did.

Before my rant begins, here's a what it's about. (Warning, there WILL be spoilers in this review) ready? set? Boom, here goes the synopsis:

One last chance...
For Max, Fang, Angel, Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy.
Before it all ends.

Are you ready for the final chapter? Are you ready for the ultimate flight? Because THIS IS IT. One last incredible, explosive adventure with an astonishing ending that no one could have seen coming.

It's from goodreads, by the way.

Let's face it, guys, the series was dying. The first three books were incredibly awesomely amazing, and then it feels like James Patterson just gave up on the storyline, which is upsetting for the reader. WHY, JAMES? WHY?!? The only thing that kept me reading is some weird loyalty to the characters, possibly the only thing holding the books together at this point. There is some character development, no doubt, but some just makes the characters irritating. For example, what the eff happened to Max in Angel? She went from being a badass, sarcastic fighting machine to being some kind of mushy, whiney excuse for a flock leader (Bella Swan, much?). And since when does Fang talk? Now that was just weird. AND BAD.

Another problem I have with Patterson is the fact that he just can't kill characters. Why did Ari have to come back? What is with that? There was no need, it was just pure randomness. And why is Jeb not dead yet? What is the point of his character since, like, book four? He should be dead, and Ari should have stayed dead. I'll admit that I wanted Fang and Max to end up together, but there had to be some other way to do it! Why did Ari's clone have to come back and kill Maya? And what is it with Patterson and his clones?

I think eight books is way to long for a series like this. The story feels forced and stretched out, and it seems like JP just doesn't know what to do after the third book, and it just kind of falls apart. Once you finish this book, you'll be like "What the eff just happened?". I mean, the book just kind of ends. it's like BANG, it's over. Goodbye, and thanks for reading! And the reader's like "I read 8 books for this? for THIS?!?". It feels like the whole series was a red-herring, which is confusing and just irritating. It was just so anti-climactic! There's this huge buildup to the virus thingy, and then a meteor explodes and rains fire on everyone. Why would you do that? It just makes 90% of the book unnecessary!

Okay, we've got through most of the bad, now we can focus on the good.

Fang and Dylan's character developments were interesting, with Fang becoming less sulky and more mature, even managing to man up and return to Max (as if nothing had happened, which is another thing wrong with this book), and Dylan wasn't as irritating in the other books, as in, I didn't wan to punch him in the face (as much). He had a bit more depth to him in this one, and he malfunctions and stuff, so we see some character development in him in this one. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about the previous two books.

We had some good action, which kept me entertained for a while, until I realized that it was the equivalent of dangling something shiny in front of a baby, all you're really doing is distracting it from what's really going on. And what was really going on is that THERE IS NO PLOT. But anyway, we had some kick-as fight scenes which were pretty cool, I mean, it's always cool when the flock goes all 'Avengers' on the bad guys.

I'm not quite sure what to make of the fact that Angel was the Voice that manipulated the computers and stuff in the first book. It just seems a bit far-fetched to me and, to be honest, I don't really buy it. JP was just trying to answer questions for the sake of it at this point, and the answer he came up with for this one was a bit absurd. I was just like: "Angel? Really?", which is NOT something the author wants his readers to think, because it affects the credibility of his storyline.

In conclusion, I think that James Patterson gave up on this book and just wanted to end it in any way possible. Doesn't he normally take input from co-authors and then steal the credit when this stuff happens? But no, he didn't even had the decency to do that. It was a bad book all around, there wasn't much structure to it, the writing was nothing special, and there was just no substance to it. If you've read the rest of the series, I recommend you read it just for the closure you'll get from it but, be warned, it pretty much sucks. It could have been a bit worse, I guess, but for an author of his calibre it was just disappointing.

Did you like it? Did you hate it? Who did you like more, Fang or Dylan? Leave your comments below, I'd love to hear what you think! Buh-bye for now.

(Not so) Happy reading,

JRD