Review - The Prince by Kiera Cass

The Prince (the Selection, #0.5) by Kiera Cass

Release date - March 5th 2013

Published by HarperTeen

ebook, 59 pages

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Description ( from Goodreads)

Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection...
Before Aspen broke America's heart...
There was another girl in Prince Maxon's life...

Quote

“I have to. That’s how it works for princes of Illéa. We marry commoners.” - Maxon

My Review

 The occasion of Maxon's 19th birthday marks the beginning of preparations for the Selection and will decide whom will be his future wife. During this exciting and terrifying time Maxon's father, the king of Illéa, brings him no real support, only orders on how to behave. His one piece of comfort comes from his mother with a promise to support the choice that he makes.

 The Selection has him thinking about Daphne, his childhood champion and if he even understands what love is. His worries about if he will choose the right girl and if he would make a good king, were interrupted when he met America Singer.

 I really enjoyed getting to experience the scene in the palace garden when Maxon and America first meet through Maxon's point of view. I liked knowing just how intrigued he was with America, I would say he was absolutely smitten.

 Something else that I liked about the book was being able to know what kinds of conversations he was having with the other girls in the competition. And after reading him speak with them  I think that prince Maxon should be renamed prince Charming.

 The last thing that I want to mention about the prince is that after reading this I like his character even more. It's nice to know what his real feelings are about having to choose one of the 35 girls to be his queen. Something I didn't like about this book was that the description of it is a little misleading. I was expecting some kind of love story between Maxon and Daphne but that wasn't the case. Even though she does profess her love, Maxon seems to only have friendly feelings for her.

I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.

✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
Would I read it again? Maybe


Buy it here:
Amazon.com

Places you can find Kiera Cass
Links
Website - www.kieracass.com/
Goodreads - www.goodreads.com/author.Kiera_Cass
Twitter - www.twitter.com/kieracass

Sunday Treasures, #6

 I found two different ebooks this week and both were completely unexpected finds.

What Really Happened in Peru (Magnus Bane chronicles, #1) by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan 
Release date April 16th 2013
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
ebook, 40 pages
Source - purchased
Add it to Goodreads

 The first of a collection of ten short stories centered around Magnus Bane. I am so excited to read this but I'm a little frightened about whether Magnus is going to live up to my high expectations of his awesomeness.
 I had no idea that Cassandra Clare was going to write Magnus some stories of his own. So it was a pleasant surprise when I discovered that one of these short stories had already been released. In all of the Shadowhunter books Magnus Bane in the one constant character in the whole series and I love reading about him.

The Testing Guide (The Testing #0.5) by Joelle Charbonneau
Release date April 1st 2013
Published by www.hmhbooks.com
ebook, 57 pages
Source - Free get it here:  http://www.hmhbooks.com/thetestingtrilogy/prequel.html
Add it to Goodreads

 I got The Testing on Net Galley and absolutely loved it. When I found the prequel for free on the publishers website I gladly downloaded it. I'm hoping to start this soon while the story is still fresh in my head. My review of The Testing is scheduled to be posted later on this week.

 

Weekly Wrap Up, #6

 Since I never did a wrap up post last week I am going to include everything I have posted for the last two weeks. All of my posts and reviews are from April 15th - April 26th 2013.

New Books

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
My super sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris
Origin by Jessica Khaury
Legend by Marie Lu
The Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt


My Reviews ( click on the titles to read the reviews)

Matched (Matched, #1) by Ally Condie

Crossed (Matched, #2) by Ally Condie

Reached (Matched, #3)  by Ally Condie

Children's Books

                                                    









Day #1 - Good Morning, Good Night/Miss Spider/Max and Ruby - David Kirk and Rosemary Wells

Day #2 Munsch stories/Arthur - Robert Munsch and Marc Brown

 






Day #3 - Rainbow Magic/Kitty Corner/Puppy Place - Daisy Meadows and Ellen Miles

Day #4 - Whatever After - Sarah Mlynowski

Day #5 - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling

Waiting on Wednesday

House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Favorite Quote

"Having Fun isn't hard, when you've got a library card" - Arthur (Marc Brown)


Books read

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
The Prince by Kiera Cass

Currently reading

Erasing Time by C.J. Hill

Children's books, #5 Harry Potter

 Children's books Day #5 and I have saved the best for last. These books can be enjoyed by kids of Any age, big or small. These captivating and magical books are among my personal all time favorites. I received the first five books as a set for Christmas years ago and was immediately hooked. It was down right painful waiting for the next two to be published, as there was a two year wait in between both of them.

 One of the main reason I enjoyed them so much is because of how well thought out and written they were. I could almost taste all of the well described candies and easily picture the wondrous Hogwarts school. So many of the characters made their way into my heart and I honestly felt a loss went the series was finished. I have re read these books countless times and the story never gets old.

 I of course have seen every Harry Potter movie and as much as I did pick them apart for all of the differences or parts that were left out, I still loved them too. I went to see the first movie in theaters and never gave the story much of a second thought until I read the books. At the risk of repeating my self, as I always say the book is better then the movie.

The books




Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone , #1
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, #2
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, #3
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, #4
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, #5
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, #6
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, #7

Add them to Goodreads

Buy them here:
Amazon.com


Places you can find J.K. Rowling
 Links
Websites - www.jkrowling.com/
                   www.pottermore.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jk_rowling

Children's Books Day #4

 Children's books Day #4 and these books are aimed at 8 - 12 years old and up and are the current treasures of my daughter, she happily eats these stories up like candy. These new and original fairy tale spin offs are a guarantee that my daughter will stay off the telephone and keep her nose buried in a book. Which is fine by me. Since I haven't read them myself I have included the Goodreads description of each one.

Fairest of All (Whatever After #1) by Sarah Mlynowski 

Paperback, 176 pages

Published by Scholastic Press

Description (from Goodreads)

Mirror, mirror, on the basement wall . . .

Once upon a time a mirror slurped up me and my brother, and magically transported us inside Snow White's fairy tale.
Then we stopped Snow White from eating the poisoned apple. Hooray! Or not. If Snow White doesn't die, she won't get to meet her prince or get her happy ending. Oops.
Now it's up to us to fix Snow White's story. And then, fingers crossed, find our way home.

If the Shoe Fits (Whatever After, #2) by Sarah Mlynowski 

Paperback, 176 pages

Published by Scholastic Press 

Description (from Goodreads)

This second book in Sarah Mlynowski's charming new series puts a fresh spin on the Cinderella story! Once upon a time my brother and I found a magic mirror. Tonight the mirror swept us into Cinderella's fairy tale. Now, we are NOT messing this story up. No way. Cinderella is going to marry her prince just like she's supposed to. Uh-oh. Cinderella broke her foot and there's massive swelling. The glass slipper won't fit, the prince won't know she's the one for him, and they won't live happily ever after. And it's all our fault! To save the day we'll need to: 1. Learn how to use a dustpan 2. Stay out of jail 3. Find Cinderella a job 4. And make sure true love finds its way. We just have to get it all done before the clock strikes twelve and the chance for a happy ending is gone . . . forever!

Sink or Swim (Whatever After #3) by Sarah Mlynowski 

Hardcover, 176 pages

Published by Scholastic Press 

Description (from Goodreads)

Once again my brother and I are in hot water . . .

We weren't planning to mess up the fairy tales. The first two times we did it by accident. But when our magic mirror pulls us into the story of the Little Mermaid, we have no choice but to try and rewrite it. Let's just say the original story does NOT end happily!

Now we need to:
- Convince our mermaid to keep her tail
- Plan a royal wedding
- Avoid getting eaten by sharks

We've got to find a happy ending for the Little Mermaid . . . before she's fish food and we're lost at sea forever!

Add them to Goodreads

Buy it here:
 Amazon.com

The Whatever After series continues with the story of Rapunzel and there is currently a contest to help name the title of the fourth book. You can check it out here:
http://blog.scholastic.com

Places you can find Sarah Mlynowski
Links
Website - www.sarahm.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/SarahMlynowski
Facebook - www.facebook.com/sarahmlynowski

Children's books Day #3

Children's books Day #3 and these chapter books are great for 7 years and up. Both of these selected series were the first chapter books that my daughter was interested in reading on her own.

Rainbow magic  by Daisy Meadows
Add it to Goodreads
Buy them here: www.chapters.indigo.ca

 These stories are about the lives of various fairies. I have never read any of these books but they must have been good easy to follow tales if she loved them so much. She purchased quite a few with her own money and read them all one after another.

 Kitty Corner and Puppy Place by Ellen Miles
Add it to Goodreads
Buy them here: www.chapters.indigo.ca

 These books are about different animals and their adventures. I also have never read any of these books but once again my daughter devoured these stories. They are an excellent introduction to chapter books that keep kids fully entertained.

Places you can find the authors
Links
Daisy Meadows - www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/daisy-meadows/
Ellen Miles - www.ellenmiles.net/

Children's books Day 2

 Day #2 of children's books includes stories that I grew up reading, both of these authors are amazingly creative and I  am pleased that they are a hit with both my kid



Robert Munsch
Add it on Goodreads
Buy them here: www.chapters.indigo.ca

 Robert Munsch writes very amusing stories about various children. Whether your reading The Paper Bag Princess or Mortimer you are bound to crack a smile at the silly characters. One of my favorite Robert Munsch books is Zoom!, a story about a little girl who wants to go fast.

Arthur by Marc Brown
Add it to Goodreads
Buy them here www.chapters.indigo.ca

Quote
"Having fun isn't hard, when you've got a library card" - Arthur

 Arthur is definitely one loved aardvark in my house. Either in books or on T.V. he visits us often. The stories are well rounded and anyways have great life lessons that help children connect with them. I love Arthur's know it all little sister D.W., her cleverness never ceases to amaze me.

Places you can find the authors
Links
Robert Munsch - robertmunsch.com
Marc Brown - marcbrownstudios.com/

Children's books Day 1

  I have always been an avid reader, which I guess I have my my mom to thank for it. She read me bedtime stories when I was small and always encouraged my passion for reading. I do this now for my children. I try to set a good example by reading more and watching television less and I'm glad to say that it has been working. Which leads me to a new theme for this week, Children's books. So for the next week I will be posting both of my kids favorite books starting with the younger ages and working my way up to pre teen. My hope is that someone will be able to find some new and fun books to read to, or be read by, kids.

Good morning, Good night by Teresa Imperato

Add it to Goodreads

Published by piggy toes press

 This book is loved by both of my kids. I used to read it to my daughter and now she reads it to my son. This story is about various animals who play in the day and get ready for sleep in the night. Its a touch and feel book, so you can pet the animals and say goodnight. My copy is almost in tatters due to it being seven years old and well read. My hope though is to keep it in good enough shape to one day - Far,Far,Far into the future - read to my grandkids.

Miss spider by David Kirk

Add it to Goodreads

Published by scholastic press

 When my daughter was little she loved everything that was Miss Spider. We checked out every book there was at the libraries and read them many times. They are sweet stories about family and friendship and the cute little adventures that they go on. Miss Spider and her broad of adopted bug children snuggled their way into our hearts. I enjoyed reading these books to my daughter. The illustrations are beautiful and full of color and the fact that they rhyme only makes them better. I love rhyming children's books, it always makes them fun for me to read.

Max and Ruby by Rosemary Wells

Add it toGoodreads

Published  by Puffin

 My son is totally into Ruby and her little brother Max, he loves the television show so I brought him home a book and it was the first time that he stayed sitting until I was finished reading. I really think that he makes a connection with Rosemary Wells stories because they are somewhat like his own life. Ruby is a very girly older sister to Max, she often likes to play dress up and find a creative way to get her brother to do what she wants, which rarely works. This is just like Serena and her little brother Cole (my children). They are great stories and are fun to see what kind of mischief Max will get into.

Authors websites
 Links
Teresa Imperato - http://www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=QueenTBone
David Kirk - www.facebook.com/davidkirkauthor
Rosemary Wells - rosemarywells.com/

Sunday Treasures, #5

 Its been a slow week on the blog. We have had a few great days of weather here in Nova Scotia and I've kept busy with some yard cleanup chores. It will all pay off when summer comes and I can spend my days reading and relaxing in my garden. I did still find time to go to the book store though and managed to get these two new gems. Also you may have noticed that I've change the title Sunday Post to Sunday Treasures, I think it sounds better.

Legend by Marie Lu

Paperback, 295 pages

Purchased at Chapters/Indigo

Add it to Goodreads

 I have heard good things about Marie Lu and when I received Prodigy from a friend I of course need to get the first book in the series before I could start it.

Origin by Jessica Khoury

Hardcover, 394 pages

Book swap

Add it to Goodreads

 The cover is what drew me in to this book and when I read the blurb on the back I knew I just had to have it. I can't wait to start this book.
 Thanks for checking out my new books if anyone would like to add anything about them feel free to comment.

Review - Reached by Ally Condie

Reached (Matched, #3) by Ally Condie

Release date - November 13th 2012

Published  by Penguin 

Hardcover, 512 pages

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Description (from Goodreads)

After leaving Society to desperately seek The Rising, and each other, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. Cassia is assigned undercover in Central city, Ky outside the borders, an airship pilot with Indie. Xander is a medic, with a secret. All too soon, everything shifts again.

My Review

 In search of a better life, Cassia joins the Rising, a rebellion that has been planning their take over of the  Society for many years. Written with alternating points of view from Cassia, Ky and Xander. Each take their own paths in a effort to aid the Rising and cure the Plague that had removed the Society from power.

Cassia finally finds a way to create things that differ from the set 100 poems, paintings and songs, she encouraged others to do the same. She no longer struggles over Ky and Xander, she knows who it is that posses her heart and there isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't think of some way for them to be reunited.

 Ky's job in the Rising is a pilot. He is in charge of flying precious cargo into the plague infested cities. Often he is partnered up with Indie, the girl from their group that walked to the carving with Cassia, she is a very dedicated member of the Rising and an excellent friend.

Xander's task is probably the hardest one of all. He first hand fights the plague that ravished the cities and desperately tries to give the infected a fight chance at life. He must do the impossible and help to discover the cure that will end the sickness to be able to start a new life with the chance to make his own choices and live the way he pleases.

 This book was more fast paced then the other two books in the series but it still fell a little short with me. Cassia's role in this story isn't near as important as Xander and Ky's, she has more or less taken on the artistic aspect of the story and focuses a lot of writing and poetry. Since I not a fan of poetry I didn't really like the parts with her working on, writing, or reading poems. With the exception of the Dylan Thomas poem "Do not go gentle into that goodnight". I'm not happy about the boy that she chooses, as far as I'm concerned she chose wrong, even after all of the things they had been through.

 Ky stays with the attitude that he would rather run away and risk life fending for himself then fight in the Rising but its still the thoughts of Cassia that have him do the opposite. He joined so that they could be together but they were immediately separated and given different tasks. I liked Ky a lot more in the beginning of the series then I did in the end. I'm not sure what exactly put me off of him because he didn't do anything wrong but its like when sometimes, you just don't like a person for any particular reason other then they annoy you.

 Xander had a stressful time trying to help find a cure and has difficult decisions to make that could effect the lives of everyone. I loved Xander. He is caring, compassionate and exceedingly intelligent, definitely good qualities for someone in the field of medicine. Xander has been a loyal member to the Rising for a long time. He believes whole heartily in case he has been fighting for but as the plague rages out of control he begins to wonder he he really understands what the Risings intentions truly are.

 I wish that I could have read more about Indie. I really liked this immensely brave girl, she's opinionated and not afraid to tell it like it is. Her role in the story was short but her actions were significant. I would have to say that Indie and Xander were my favorite characters in the story.
 In conclusion I would like to add that I wish that the story could have had a little more excitement and a little less of Cassia's poetry and worrying about the welfare of the people that she loves.
  I give this a 3 out of 5 stars.

✯ ✯ ✯
Would I read it again? No

Buy it here:

www.chapters.indigo.ca

Places you can find Ally Condie
Links
Website - www.allycondie.com
Twitter -  https://twitter.com/allycondie
Facebook -www.facebook.com/allycondiebooks

Review - Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed (Matched, #2) by Ally Condie

Release Date - November 1st 2011

Published  by Dutton Children's

Hardcover, 367 pages

Add it to http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9794437-crossed

Description (from Goodreads)

The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.


My Review

 Crossed is told from both Ky and Cassia's points of view with alternating chapters and it begins shortly after the events that occurred in Matched.
 We start out with Cassia, she's been placed in a work labor group that takes her to the boarders of the outer provinces. She has agreed with the Society's form of rehabilitation so that she could find information and go searching for Ky.
 She finally gets the chance she been waiting for when officials come looking for the girls that are Aberration to take to the villages in the outer provinces. She faked her way on board with a little help from a girl named Indie.
 Upon her arrival Cassia discovers that  the society is sending aberrations out to the outer provinces as decoys, to basically be killed by the enemy that the society is fighting. With help, Cassia sets out on a journey to the carving in search of any sign that Ky has been there.

 Ky's story starts out in a horrifying place full of devastation and  great loss of life. He was told that if he could survive for six months then he would be reinstated as a citizen and be permitted to return home. But this is a lie. They sent him there to die.
 Bravely, Ky and two other boys risk certain death and they escape. They then make their way to the Carving, a place that Ky's father told him he should go if he was in trouble and in need of help. The entire time Ky thinks of Cassia. He wonders how he will find her again, not knowing that she has been looking for him this whole time.
 Fighting against the officials Cassie, Ky and their group encountered death, destruction and poisoned waters. Something else that they found on their journey was hope of a promise of the day when the Society will fall.

 I liked Cassia's character. She is that person that does things that were never expected she would be able to. She was loyal to the Society her whole life, it wasn't until her grandfather told her to wonder that she began thinking of what could be. So when she began thinking this way she wasn't going to let anyone stop her. Which took a lot of courage in this highly oppressed society. Along with her determination, I liked her unselfishness. When she is planning her escape from the labor camp she terribly misses her family. The only way she would take such a big risk and leave them is because she knows that they will not get reclassified due to her actions. If a parent causes an infraction the whole family gets reclassified but if a child does, the child alone is punished. Even though she desperately wants to find Ky she will not let anything awful happen to her family just so she can find happiness with him.

 Something that I liked about Ky was that he wants no part of the rising that didn't come to the aid of his village when he was a child and left them to die. He also doesn't want to return to the society. Ky would be perfectly happy running away with Cassia to live with the anomalies, I respected his decision to want to forge his own path. But will he go to the rising? These people that he doesn't trust, so that he doesn't loose Cassia and perhaps push her into the arms of another.

 I missed Xander in this story, he did make a short appearance but wasn't in it for very long. He was mentioned a few times throughout the story though. This story did drag on at a slow place for me. There was a lot of running around and exploring but no real excitement. I did still like the book and enjoyed meeting some new characters that were brought into the story. Although I am hoping that the pace picks up for the last novel in the series.
 I give this a 3 out of 5 stars.

✯ ✯ ✯
 Would I read it again? No

Buy it here:

Kobo.com

Places you can find Ally Condie
Links
Website - www.allycondie.com
Twitter - @allycondie
Facebook -www.facebook.com/allycondiebooks

Waiting on Wednesday, #2 - House of Hades by Rick Riordan

House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus, #4) by Rick Riordan

Cover reveal May 31st 2013

Release Date - October 8th 2013

Hardcover, 608 pages

Published by Hyperion books

Add it to Goodreads

Description (from Goodreads)

 At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy's instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea's forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape? They have no choice. If the demigods don't succeed, Gaea's armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

Why I'm waiting

 I am a huge fan of all things Percy Jackson and immediately fell in love with the Hero's of Olympus series. Not only do you get more of Percy and his Greek demigod friends but you also get introduced to Jason and his Roman friends. I devoured the Percy Jackson series after I saw the movie The Lightning Thief and as I always say, the book was better then the movie. Since then I have been very impatiently waiting for each of the Heroes of Olympus books and once again find myself waiting for  " the next " book to be written.
 Even if I had to pick a favorite character I still wouldn't because I love them all. Its just to hard to choose, I like them for different reasons and each one has their own rare qualities. I can pick a favorite god though, Dionysus. I love his grumpy personality and I find his sarcasm hilarious, he definitely can deliver a laugh.
 These books were funny, well thought out stories. Fast paced, action packed and enigmatic, you can't put it down until your finished.

Per order it here:

Chapters/Indigo.com
Amazon.com

Other books in the series

Percy Jackson
The Lightning Thief, #1
The Sea of Monsters, #2
The Titans Curse, #3
The Battle of the Labyrinth, #4
The Last Olympian, #5

Heroes of Olympus
The Lost Hero, #1
The Son of Neptune, #2
The Mark of Athena, #3

Places you can find Rick Riordan
 Links
Website - www.rickriordan.com/
Twitter -  https://twitter.com/camphalfblood

Review - Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie

Release date - November 30th 2010

Published  by Dutton Juvenile

Hardcover, 369 pages

Add it toGoodreads

Description (from Goodreads)

 Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
 The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Quote

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.


My Review (warning there are mild spoilers here)

 Cassia lives as a citizen in the Society, a place that is governed with an iron fist. There are 100 songs, 100 movies and 100 poems to insure people think a certain way. All parts of their lives are scheduled, when to work, when to play and when to eat and sleep. Their dreams are even monitored.The society has taught people only how to survive as a community. All so people can have healthier and longer lives.
 Like all citizens Cassia must carry with her at all times three tablets.
The blue, with water, will help you survive days without food.
The green will calm you down when your anxious or worried
 The red, no one knows what this one is used for. It's a mystery. They are only to be taken when a high-level Official tells them to do so.

 Cassia has been waiting as long as she could remember for her day to get matched. When a boy or girl turns seventeen they get matched with the person that they will someday marry. Someone who is most the compatible and they will produce healthy children with.

 But somehow Cassia was matched twice.

 She never thought much of Ky until he appeared on her micro card. An official of the society told her it was a cruel joke, he was a Aberration  and therefore could never be matched. It is best to be Citizen with rights in the society but there are also Aberrations, who usually acquire their status due to an Infraction, they receive no privileges. Last there are the Anomalies, who are completely separated from Society.

  Because Ky's parent's committed a huge infraction his status was changed from Citizen to Aberration and banished to the outer provinces. After bring adopted by his aunt and uncle he was allowed to come back to the society but never as an equal and always watched.

 Cassia never tried thinking differently then she was always taught to do until her grandfathers 80th birthday. When he told her that It’s all right to wonder and gave her a poem that wasn't one of the sanctioned 100.

 As she took a closer look at Ky she began having confusing feelings towards him. Xander was her match. He was her best friend and she should be happy with him. But for some reason she can't help looking in Ky's direction. He becomes her hiking partner and she's happy to spend more time with him. He teaches her to create words and she shares her special - and illegal - poem with him. That poem become a symbol of how she wants to fight for her right to choose who ever she wants to love. But how do they have before the society realizes what they're doing?

 I really liked this story. It definitively had me thinking about a time when people no longer had to worry about disease and could live to a nice old age. But I would never want this longer life if it meant that I couldn't actually live it. Really I'm surprised that there is no open rebellion noticeably fighting in the streets.

 I liked Cassia and Xander's friendship and yet still respect Cassia's decision to choose Ky. She obviously cares for Xander a great deal but doesn't try to force love that's not there. Another aspect of the story that I liked was how to Cassia, Ky must be incredibly exciting. He has knowledge of beautiful things and knows horrible truths that she never could have dreamed. I did however find that the story did drag on but I understand that there needed to be time to really give the feeling of what it was like to live within this nation. That way we would understand just how big the step is that Cassia takes to think and feel for herself.
 I give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

✯ ✯ ✯ ½
Would I read it again? No

Buy it here
Amazon.com
Kobo.com

Places you can find Ally Condie
Links
Website - www.allycondie.com
Twitter - @allycondie
Facebook -www.facebook.com/allycondiebooks

Sunday Post, #4

New books 

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

For Review

ebook, 336 pages

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My super sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris

Purchased at Chapter/Indigo

Paperback, 260 pages

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The Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt

 Purchased at Chapter/Indigo

Paperback, 298 pages

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 I received the Testing for review from Net Galley and I think that it sounds really good. I have never read anything by Joelle Charbonneau before and am looking forward to reading this story. I have never before read anything by Rachel Harris or Tiffany Truitt either but have heard wonderful things about both of their books. I ordered My Super Sweet 16th Century and The Chosen ones from Chapters/Indigo and am hoping that they won't take very long to get here, I've been waiting a while to read them. Has anyone read any of these books? If so let me know what you think :-)  as always thanks for reading.

Weekly Wrap Up, #5

 I borrowed some great books this past week. Much thanks to the Halifax public libraries for always supplying me with exceptional reads. I managed to post every day this week, which is my first time doing so. I had a theme to my reviews which I called a Week of Novella, in hind site I should have called it a Week of Prequels because one of my reviews wasn't a novella or a short story, technically, but it was a little book. However, it was a prequel hence my rant about how I should have chosen a better name for the theme. Oh well, maybe next time :-) Here is my summary for the week of April 7th - April 13th 2013.


Reviews (click on the titles to read the reviews)

Free Four- Tobias tells the story By Veronica Roth

Annabel By Lauren Oliver

'Til the World Ends By Julie Kagawa

The Kill Order by James Dashner

Novella that I would like to read

The Prince  by Kiera Cass

Favorite Quote

“I love you, Kylie,” he murmured. “Stay with me. Till the end of the world.” - Ben, 'Til the World Ends

Books read this week

Matched by Ally Condie
Crossed by Ally Condie

Currently reading

Reached by Ally Condie

The Prince by Kiera Cass

 We have reached day 5 of a Week of Novellas. For my last post with this theme I have chosen I novella that I would like to read but haven't gotten around to it yet.

The Prince (The selection, #0.5) by Kiera Cass
Release date - March 5th 2013
Published by HarperTeen
ebook, 59 pages
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Description (from Goodreads)

Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection...

Before Aspen broke America's heart...

There was another girl in Prince Maxon's life...

Don't miss this thrilling 128-page original novella set in the world of the New York Times bestselling novel The Selection. Also features a teaser to The Elite, Kiera Cass's hotly anticipated sequel to The Selection.

Why I want to read this novella

 I never used to spend much time reading novellas because they are so short. But I have discovered recently that I enjoy getting a little bit extra out of series and a novella does just that.
 I loved Prince Maxon in the Selection and I'm sure I will continue to love him through the series. I am interested in getting a peek into his life before the selection and to find out who this other girl in his life was and why she is no longer in it.

Buy it here:

Amazon.com

Kobo.com


Other books in the series



The Selection, #1 Add it to Goodreads

The Elite, #2 (release date, Apr 23) Add it to Goodreads

Places you can find Kiera Cass
Links
Website - http://www.kieracass.com
Twitter - @kieracass

Review - The Kill Order by James Dashner

 This is day 4 of a Week of Novellas and just realized that all of the books I have blogged about this week have been prequels. Because of this I'm including The Kill Order in this weeks theme. It isn't a novella or a short story but it is a prequel.

The Kill Order (Maze Runner, 0.5) by James Dashner
August 14th 2012
Published  by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Hardcover, 327 pages
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Description (from Goodreads)

 Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.
 Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.
 Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.

My Review

  Set in a time when Earth has been ravaged by sun flares and it is every man for himself, Mark finds himself in even more trouble then he imagined. When unknown people attack his settlement and kill or infects everyone he has tried to make a new life with, Mark sets out on a quest with his friends Trisha, Alec and Lana desperate to find the  answers as to why this had happened.

  I really enjoyed this prequel to the Maze Runner trilogy. The Kill Order was action packed and it was easy to get lost in the pages of the story. I found myself thinking that if I was ever in the situation where sun flares and infectious diseases were killing off mankind, I would want Alec there to take care of me. The retired army man found his way into my heart and easily became my favorite character. He took on the fatherly role that must have helped Mark and Trisha adapt in this new world without any of their loved ones left alive.

  I love the chapters where Mark falls asleep and dreams about the events that occurred on the day that the sun flares hit and the events that followed soon after. It would have been pure terror to have experienced what this poor guy and his friend had to endure. And they were the lucky ones.

  Also I liked that the prologue and epilogue were tie ins to the Maze Runner.  The only negative thing I would have to say is that the action scenes were to descriptive,I found that I  kept trying to skim through them.

I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

✯ ✯ ✯ ½

Would I read it again? Maybe.

P.S Good endings don't always have to be happy ones.

Buy it here

Amazon.com
Kobo.com

Other books in the series  

The Maze Runner, #1
The Scorch Trials, #2
The Death Cure, #3

Review - 'Til the world ends by Julie Kagawa

’Til the World Ends (The Blood of Eden, #0.5) by Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre, Karen Duvall

Release Date - January 29th 2013

ebook,  448 pages

Published by Harlequin Luna

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Description (from Goodreads)

Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa 

Before The Immortal Rules, there was the Red Lung, a relentless virus determined to take out all in its path. For Kylie, the miracle of her survival is also her burden-as a doctor at one of the clinics for the infected, she is forced to witness endless suffering. What's worse, strange things are happening to the remains of the dead, and by the time she befriends Ben Archer, she's beginning to wonder if a global pandemic is the least of her problems.... 


Quote
“I love you, Kylie,” he murmured. “Stay with me. Till the end of the world.”


My Review

 The Red Lung virus has drastically dropped the numbers in the human population. Kylie, a young doctor contracted the virus and was one of a very few people who recovered. Since then she has devoted her time to caring for her patients and hoping for a cure. Kylie firmly believed that having hope could help people find a reason to fight the virus, instead of just giving up.

 With the disintegration of normal everyday life, people reverted to their primal instincts and began preying on each other. There was no law. There was no order.
 But still Kylie stayed in her clinic to help the infected. When Ben Archer walks through the door carrying a very sick friend with what appears to be human bite mark in his flesh, the devastating world becomes a new and terrifying place to try and survive in.

 First thing I need to say is that I only read the part of the book that was written by Julie Kagawa. I desperately want to read The Eternity Cure and am waiting on the release so I was hoping this would fill that gap. I was in no way disappointed. This book was awesome! I loved both Ben and Kylie and it was a delight to read their story. I love that Kylie is so determined to make difference in the poor fated lives of her patients. She is obviously a exceedingly caring person and is always prepared to help someone in need.

 I immediately liked Ben. He's a sad broken man forced to realize the disastrous effect his actions are going to have on the already broken planet. He was persistent in wanting to go home to his family farm and keep Kylie safe at the same time.
Since this is a prequel to The Immortal Rules, Kanin Pops up in the story and it is Kylie who convinces him to except the horrendous things he has done and to move forward and try to fix them.

 There was a part in the story that gave me the shivers because of the description of those frighteningly intelligent zombies and I loved it! If I ever won the lottery I would hire Julie Kagawa to tell me scary bedtime stories.
 I enjoyed discovering how the the Red Lung virus mutated and eventually turns into the world that we meet Allison in.
I give this a 5 out of 5 stars.

✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ 
Would I read it again? Yes!

Buy it here 
Amazon.com
Kobo.com

Places you can find Julie Kagawa
Links
Website  - http://www.juliekagawa.com
Twitter -  @jkagawa
Facebook - facebook.com/jkagawa