The Young Elites Series Author: Marie Lu Books: The Young Elites The Rose Society The Midnight Star (expected in 2016) Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers Genres: Fantasy Goodreads Summary for The Young Elites (Book 1): I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside. Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites. Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her. It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt. Uh! This series is hard for me to review. I really like Marie Lu as an author. She creates interesting worlds with engaging conflicts, and fun characters. I devoured her Legend series. Truth: I had no intention of continuing this series after book one. The Young Elites felt disjointed, like Lu wasn’t really sure who her characters were, especially Adelina. Actually, it wasn’t until Lu introduces Maeve’s story during the epilogue of the book when I thought: now THIS is interesting…a little late for a book to spark my interest. After finishing the book, I also learned that Lu was herself trying to figure out who Adelina was and where her story was going while writing the book. She said it was really hard for her to write Young Elites, until she realized she was telling a villain’s story. This made more sense to me, and helped me put some of Adelina’s actions into perspective. She’s a villain, not a good girl. Do I want to read a story about a villain? It’s hard for me to invest in a character when I’m not supposed to route for her. Anyway, when I saw The Rose Society available at the library I decided to give it a try.
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The Remnant Chronicles Author: Mary E. Pearson Books: The Kiss of Deception The Heart of Betrayal The Beauty of Darkness (Expected Pub: 2016) Published by: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Genres: Fantasy, Romance Goodreads Summary for The Kiss of Deception: A princess must find her place in a reborn world. She flees on her wedding day. She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection. She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father. She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan. The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance. Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love. Alternately bored and intrigued, The Remnant Chronicles didn’t deliver like I hoped it would. At the heart of this story is a mystery about whom Lia can trust. You’re supposed to be nervous about whom she’s aligning herself with, and worried she’s going to make the wrong choice in love. Because of how the narratives are set up, Mary E. Pearson is able to throw a big misdirection and twist at the end of The Kiss of Deception. This twist was so blindsiding that it took me several chapters to catch up and figure out what the heck just happened. It didn’t feel good, either. It just felt confusing. If I hadn’t already gotten the second book, The Heart of Betrayal from the library, I might not have continued the series.
Title: Dorthy Must Die Author: Danielle Paige Published by: HarperCollins; Reprint edition Publication date: April 1, 2014 Pages: 469 Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Retelling Summary from Goodreads: I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero. But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado - taking you with it - you have no choice but to go along, you know? Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little bluebirds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still a yellow brick road - but even that's crumbling. What happened? Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe. My name is Amy Gumm - and I'm the other girl from Kansas. I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I've been trained to fight. And I have a mission. I usually finish books. Even if I don't love where the story is going, or the characters annoy me, I tend to see it through. I started Danielle Paige's Dorthy Must Die knowing it was going to be a different kind of story. That Oz would be different, the wicked would be good, and a new power-hungry Dorthy would need to be put in her place, or, you know....die. Sadly, this is my first DNF (did not finish) in a long time.
From magicians to rebels, time travel to wars, dark allies to the whimsy of new discoveries - these books delighted my imagination and had me cheering for more.
Here are my top 10 favorite books from 2015: 10. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab I really liked this story about a magician who travels between alternate London universes. The story and characters have stuck with me all year. My only qualm is that it's not a YA book, even though it's often marketed that way. It's more appropriate for mature teens. 9. The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey Echo, a seasoned theif, finds herself in the middle of a search for the coveted Firebird, rumored to finally end and age-old war. 8. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch Multiple kingdoms unite or clash for ultimate authority. Meira slowly realizes her part in regaining Winter's magic and rebuilding their kingdom is more important than she imagined. Title: The Girl at Midnight Author: Melissa Grey Published by: Delacorte Press Publication date: April 28, 2015 Pages: 370 Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance Summary from Goodreads: Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known. Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act. Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, though if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it. But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire. She had gone to the library in search of hope, but what she’d found instead was a child. It would take her many years to realize that the two were not so different. After I finish a book I sometimes have this urgent moment when I feel like I have to start a new story right away. I think about what I’m going to read, but nothing appeals, and that’s when I realize what I really want to read is more of the book I just finished. The Girl at Midnight is one of those books. I want to know what’s next for Echo and the world of the Avicen and Drakharin. I liked the characters. I liked the metamorphosis. I liked the relationships. I like how the characters transport to all sorts of interesting places around the world. I couldn’t be happier that there’s more to explore there, and that’s a sign of an entertaining book. I expect a heroine to be strong, brave, and resourceful, but I love that Echo is also intelligent, loyal, and funny. Maybe I just like her because she lives in a library…seriously, that’s my girl. Echo collects words like she collects “shiny things” being the thief she is, but mostly keeps the words to herself in a running mental commentary. And she’s cheeky, using humor to deflect tension and nerves. She loves the feathered Avicen who have become her family, so much so she risks her life chasing a possible fairy tale. That’s why her feelings are so conflicted when she meets Caius, a Drakharin (the Avicen’s mortal enemy) on a mission for peace. “I hear you have something of mine, Echo,” the Drakharin said. “I would like it back.” … |
Lindsey Learn
I read a lot. I'm a Mom. I'm officially in my 30s, but strangers often don't believe I'm old enough to drink. I love Young Adult fiction, and thought it was worthwhile to help teens and adults find age-appropriate options. Categories
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