Title: The Outcasts Author: John Flanagan # of Pages: 434 (hardback) Genre: YA, Fantasy, Adventure Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Synopsis:They are outcasts. Hal, Stig, and the others - they are the boys the others want no part of. Skandians, as any reader of Ranger's Apprentice could tell you, are known for their size and strength. Not these boys. Yet that doesn't mean they don't have skills. And courage - which they will need every ounce of to do battle at sea against the other bands, the Wolves and the Sharks, in the ultimate race. The icy waters make for a treacherous playing field . . . especially when not everyone thinks of it as playing. John Flanagan, author of the international phenomenon Ranger's Apprentice, creates a new cast of characters to populate his world of Skandians and Araluens, a world millions of young readers around the world have come to know and admire. Full of seafaring adventures and epic battles, Book 1 of The Brotherband Chronicles is sure to thrill readers of Ranger's Apprentice while enticing a whole new generation just now discovering the books. Review: This book was such a disappointment.
I am a huge fan of The Ranger's Apprentice series and was highly anticipating the wonderful story he would right in the Brotherband Chronicles. However, I found that The Outcasts was poorly written and, to be frank, boring. Was The Ranger's Apprentice series written like this? I can't even remember.
Below are the notes I have taken while reading The Outcasts:
- The time skips seem unnecessary as do the extensive background of Thorn.
-Who is the main character? Is it Hal or Thorn? This isn't made clear in the first 50 pages.
-The development of the story and the characters overall is poor.
-The feelings of the characters are told to the reader rather than shown through actions or dialogue, therefore making the writing style come off as childish.
-At first, the twins, Ulf and Wulf, came off as annoying because they were always fighting, and they didn't have very distinct personalities as individuals. However, their mischievous nature is portrayed when they comment that Hal is smart, but, "not as smart as us, though" as Wulf gives his identification cord to Ulf (155). They reminds me of the Hitachi twins (from the anime Ouran High School Host Club), who I like very much.
-I get that Hal is a nature leader, but he's stuck with a brotherband of rejects (with lack of a better term) that have never all worked together as a team. If you include the fact that they're short two members, it seems a little unbelievable that Hal's brotherband was THAT successful in their first assignment. I would have thought that at least one of the other brotherbands would have came relatively close. It would have introduced a little more conflict into the story and made it more interesting.
-It's displeasing how the Sharks are portrayed as the stereotypical bullies. Sure, maybe Tursgud is mean, but it's hard for me to believe that all of those who are in his brotherband are the same way.
-So far, Tursgud seems like Horace, Hal like Will, Thorn like Halt, and Erak like Baron Arnold. Not exactly an original story.
-Is this book suppose to be teaching me that cheating is okay as long as I'm not caught? Because cheating is cheating, no matter what. The Herons cannot honestly say that game of tug-of-war.
-The wording is so childish!
Title: City of Lost Souls Author: Cassandra Clare # of Pages: 544 (paperback) Genre: YA, Paranormal-romance, Fantasy Rating: ★★★★☆ Synopsis: Jace is now a servant of evil, bound for all eternity to Sebastian. Only a small band of Shadowhunters believe he can be saved. To do this they must defy the Clave. And they must act without Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace's soul. Clary is willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love? Review: I have to give Clare a hand; this has to be my favorite book of The Mortal Instruments series so far.
I'm not exactly sure what was so great about it; whether it was because I didn't try as hard to look for mistakes or that it was because I wanted to enjoy it, but I just did.
I know in my review for the previous book, City of Fallen Angels, I complained about third-person point-of-view switching. However, I realized that this allowed Clary less time to annoy me (because trust me, I still found her annoying in CoLS) and more time for some of my favorite characters to shine.
I have decided that my top three favorite characters are Magnus, Simon (tying for the first and second position) and Isabelle. Along with Clare, one of my least favorites is Alec.
I am EXTREMELY happy that Alec and Magnus broke up (for now. If Clare loves her characters, she might bring them back together). Magnus was spot on with what he said about how Alec has no right to make decisions for him. Alec was way too insecure in their relationship, and I'm glad Magnus was able to see that.
I'm really sad that Sebastian was actually a bad. The story could have gone to new heights if he had some good in him..but still is mostly evil. I really hope Clare doesn't do that back-and-forth good/bad guy thing that James Patterson did with Ari in Maximum Ride.
By this point, everyone reading the series should be fans and not haters, so to this crowd, I recommend it.
Title: The Fault in Our Stars Author: John Green # of Pages: 355 (hardback) Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary Rating: ★★★★★ Synopsis: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. Review:Original Review: 5 stars Originally posted on Goodreads February 24, 2013.
I was laughing so hard when I was reading this book.
I was crying so hard when I was reading this book.
Words cannot describe how I felt about The Fault In Our Stars. But that's a really stupid thing to say. Hazel at least would probably think so since I'm about to describe my exact feelings about it. In words. Why would I say something if I didn't really mean it? It's like Isaac and Monic's "Always".
For those of you who haven't read the book, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. Don't worry; I didn't spoil anything for you. Yet. Most of the review that I have planned is going to contain spoilers, so I will be putting that part at the bottom. But first I will write the part for those who are hesitant to read it.
People, you must read this book. I myself was hesitating to even touch the book. I mean, it's about CANCER! It must be a really depressing book, right?
WRONG!
Believe it or not, this book has A LOT of humor. And he is great at adding the humor. How do I know this? Because, right in the middle of the most serious, saddest part of the book, I burst out laughing. LAUGHING when I should have been CRYING! But I don't think John Green wanted his readers to mess up the book with the snot and tears dripping onto it.
For those of you who want a tear dripping novel, don't worry; Green gives you plenty enough time to do that. But he's going to stop you from getting weird looks from the people sitting around you as the wonder why in the world you burst into tears.
And for you young readers (like those 1st graders who think its great to skip right over the children's section and read out of the YA section) there are some "bad words" and a steam-y-ish scene in the middle. It's nothing horribly graphic, but it's suggestive. And defiantly not for seven year-olds.
Alright, I think I'm satisfied with the spoiler-less part. So, if you haven't already, go and get the book! Then finish reading my review. Now shoo. Go read
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Are they gone? Good! Now I get to say whatever I want!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
... Yeah, that was a little awkward. Moving on!
The ending. Oh. My. Freaking. Gosh. The whole time from about page 50 on, I was worrying that Green was going to end the freaking book like ALA to the point where I was a little depressed when he didn't. But then I read the Q and A at the end. There just HAD to be that very last question!
Q: Did you consider ending TFIOS mid sentence? While I was reading it for the first time I was terrified that that was the way you would end it!
A: I agree with Augustus that there is a contract between reader and writer and that not ending the book violates that contract. Also, it just seemed kinda
I felt like screaming. HE GOT HIS FRICKEN MID-SENTENCE ENDING ANYWAY!!!
AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
*pant* *pant* Phew, I'm glad I got that out of my system. On with my rant.
The dialogue. I know that Gus and Hazel are really smart, but the "big words" made me feel really stupid. I wish he dumbed it down a bit. And who names his kid Augustus?!
On the subject of Augustus, tell me what's wrong with this quote:
"Augustus nodded for a while, his lips pursed, and then gave Isaac a thumbs-up."
Keep in mind that this is AFTER Isaac is blind. Is this just to show that Gus is too sick to even remember that Isaac is blind? It was such a big flaw that I couldn't leave it unsaid. Anyone, correct me if I'm wrong.
I have a confession to make. I didn't really cry (or laugh) very much when I was reading this book. Sure, my eyes ALMOST watered and I blew more air out of my nose and mouth that usual but I didn't actually show any real outward emotion. I wish I did because then I would have really liked the book. Don't get me wrong, I liked the book very much, but that's how I measure how good the writer is. And I didn't cry.
WHY DIDN'T YOUR BOOK MAKE ME CRY JOHN GREEN?!?!?!!??
I was so sad that I didn't cry that I wanted to cry. Ironic isn't it?
Second Review: 5 stars
June 4, 2014
It's amazing; it's been over a year since I first read TFIOS. It doesn't feel like it's been nearly that long.
In honor of the movie release on June 5 and 6, I made the not-so-difficult decision to reread John Green's masterpiece. I was a little worried because the beginning was not as magnificent as I remembered. The plot line was "spoiled" too, so I lost that fresh, unknown feel a book has when you read its contents for the first time. However, I didn't need to worry. John Green still made me feel the same emotions as I did those many months ago.
Below in the spoilers, you will find the notes I took throughout the reading of the book along with my afterthoughts.
NOTES
-The romance between Hazel and Gus is paced a little too quickly.
-Kaitlyn seems unimportant to the story and her interaction with Hazel is randomly placed. While her character may allow our protagonist to reflect on her relationship with "normal" people, I think the same thing could have been achieved a different way.
-Hazel sharing her cannula with Jackie, a random little girl, seems pretty gross. (Refer to page 46).
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"I'd known plenty of dead people, of course. But I'd never dated one. I couldn't even imagine it, really" (72).
-Too bad she is going to have to experience it.
-Hazel seems like a brat sometimes. She expects her mom to be there to listen to whatever she has to say at any given time. For example, when she receives an email from Lidewij Vliegenthart, she screams for her mom to come over to her. Her mom rushes out of the bath because she doesn't know what's going on. Hazel could have at least said something while screaming for her mom to signify that her presence isn't urgent and there is nothing physically wrong with her that requires immediate attention.
-In a way, Augustus' love for poems reminds me a bit of Shiver's male protagonist, which is extremely concerning. However, I remind myself that Gus is not a werewolf and did not creepily stalker her, therefore making him a perfectly normal guy. And I remind myself that it is perfectly fine for guys to like poetry, an aspect that had recently been corrupted by Maggie Stiefvater.
-Everyone clapping for Gus and Hazel at the Anne Frank House when they kissed was a bit unrealistic. The chances are that there would be some group (or even just one person) who would be indifferent towards their kiss, or even disgusted by it. PDA is often politely ignored, and this shouldn't have been an exception.
-The encounter with Monica's mom during the egging also seem unrealistic.
AFTERTHOUGHT
I thought for sure that I would not feel the same emotions regarding Augustus' death as I did the first time, but I was proven wrong. I FELT THAT CRAZY PAIN OF LOSING A CLOSE FRIEND ALL OVER AGAIN. And, as we have all hopefully learned, pain demands to be felt.
And I definitely felt that pain.
To be truthful, I'm anxious for the movie release. Up to this point, I was very confident in the movie, expecting it to meet or even exceed my expectations. But after the feels that were felt, I'm not so sure.
Title: The Shadow Throne Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen # of Pages: 317 (hardback) Genre: YA, Middle Grade, Adventure Rating:★★★☆☆ Synopsis: War has come to Carthya. It knocks at every door and window in the land. And when Jaron learns that King Vargan of Avenia has kidnapped Imogen in a plot to bring Carthya to its knees, Jaron knows it is up to him to embark on a daring rescue mission. But everything that can go wrong does. His friends are flung far and wide across Carthya and its neighbouring lands. In a last-ditch effort to stave off what looks to be a devastating loss for the kingdom, Jaron undertakes what may be his last journey to save everything and everyone he loves. But even with his lightning-quick wit, Jaron cannot forestall the terrible danger that descends on him and his country. Along the way, will he lose what matters most? And in the end, who will sit on Carthya's throne? Review: The Shadow Throne is probably my least favorite book of the trilogy.
This book revolves around the war between Carthya and Avenia, and with war comes politics. And with politics comes confusion. The flow of the book wasn't as smooth as The False Prince, especially since Jaron moves around a lot. Smaller details need to be noted to understand the fighting that was going on.
However, the ending was pretty good. I still wish there was more development of some of the characters and that Roden was too easily trusted.
Title: The Runaway King Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen # of Pages: 331 (hardback) Genre: YA, Middle Grade, Adventure Rating: ★★★★☆ Synopsis: Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom? Review: The Runaway King had a rocky start, but had a bit of a "big-reveal" ending that almost was as good as The False Prince's.
I wish there was more development Imogen either in this book or in The False Prince. I don't feel any attachment to her at all, and it's affecting my enjoyment of the plot.
I really like Jaron's character. He's mischievous and sneaky, but is also brave and caring towards both his country and the people he knows.
If you liked the False Prince, I recommend this one!
