Book Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Buy This Book 

Book 1 in 'Penryn & the End of Days' series.
Pages: 247
Published: May 2011
Genres: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Post Apocalyptic

Synopsis...
Six weeks ago, angels descended onto earth and caused chaos. Now in a post apocalyptic world, where everyone lives in fear of the warrior angels, the street gangs, and basically everyone else. A seventeen year old girl named, Penryn. Her wheelchair bound little sister, and her crazy mother who thinks she is terrorized by demons. Try to escape the city, and get to somewhere more isolated.

As they try to do this, they stumble across an all out fight among some angels. Penryn helps to save one of the angels, and her younger sister is stolen from her in the process; while her mother vanishes. She makes a deal with the angel she saved named, Raffe. To find her sister, and save her from the cruel angels who snatched her. The two of them travel together across California, a very very unlikely pair. 

Review...
So this may sound like some run-of-the-mill YA, paranormal romance, but just with angels. But believe me when I say it is so much more. Let me start by saying I have nothing negative to say about this book. Nothing! Nothing at all is wrong. Its just perfection, and Im pretty sure it may be my favourite book this year. The characters were so interesting, they had such depth, and where so three dimensional. Especially the crazy mom, who does things like draw with lipstick on dead bodies, and who is continually hiding from demons no one else can see. (Maybe because they don't exist, but who knows?) She was without a doubt my favourite character, I love her so much!

The setting was incredibly well described. I felt like I was there, and it was done so in a seamless way. It was fast paced, it was action packed, and it drew me in immediately and never let go. Also this book had the perfect balance of creepiness and weirdness thanks to the mom and the amazing writing. I recommend this book with every bone in my body! Please, read it! You wont regret it.

5/5 

Book Review & Talk: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Written by Veronica Roth
Pages: 525
Published: May 2012
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Romance

Second book in the Divergent Series.

Goodreads Synopsis...
One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

My Review...
Where to begin with this book. Well I guess we can start by talking about how amazing this book was. It was so much fun to read, and just as fast-paced as divergent. The writing style was again very good, and easy to follow. And things just kept on happening, all the time.

Something that surprised me was the darkness that seeped into these covers. Because of certain events that occurred in the first book, Tris the main character was a very different person. She was still strong, but she allowed herself to be affected by the things that happened. I really enjoyed this, it helped to not only grow her as a character. But to also make her less of a robot and more of a real and likeable human.

There were also moments that made me laugh out loud. Maybe they weren't exactly funny. But there was definitely some awkward and very good sarcasm.

However this book was not ALL good. The answers I was looking for in the first book, were not given here. None at all! Nothing new was revealed, and I have to say that two books is too long to string me along. Also although I liked the enclosed environment that was present in the first book, as it helped to focus on the story. I would have liked to see a greater exploration of the setting, which didn't really happen. 

The ending was also a little bit annoying because although it offers that cliff-hanger, that makes me want the next book SO bad. It was not a surprising ending, and was a tad anti-climactic.  

I really enjoyed this dark, action-packed book and definitely recommend you read it. I cant wait for the next book in the series, which had better provide some answers.

I give this book a 5 out of 5! 
 
If you have read this book and want to discuss it with me, then watch the video below and head to my YouTube page: bookswithdylan

Book Review & Talk: Every Day by David Levithan

Written by David Levithan
Pages: 336
Published: August 2012
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads Synopsis...
In his New York Times bestselling novel, David Levithan introduces readers to what Entertainment Weekly calls a "wise, wildly unique" love story about A, a teen who wakes up every morning in a different body, living a different life.

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.



My Review...
I bet after reading that synopsis, your thinking that you have to read this book. That it sounds so interesting and unique and different! And thats the same reaction I had when I heard about it. Now I really like this book, but I want to cut through the hype, and not get you too overexcited about 'Ever Day'. Trust me its for your own good. 

The things I liked most about this book was the plot. I mean come on! Its so cool, and something Ive never read before. The way the story is laid out, also allows some very interesting and VERY different messages to be shown. Messages I have again never encountered before. The book over all was captivating, and because each chapter was 'A' in a different body and life, it was hard to get bored.

With all the good, came some bad as well. This is primarily a romance book. For some reason I started reading it, thinking it would be more sci-fi, and more action. There is little to none in that department. What this is, is a very, VERY complicated love story. I think it could have been so much more if it had gone in a different direction. But eh, what are ya gonna do? The romance was also annoying sometimes, and it led to a strange ending. I felt like there should be another book, and there isn't. Which begs the question, why there are so many loose ends to this book?

In any case, this book was well written, thought provoking and different.

I enjoyed it very much, and I give it 4 out of 5.

If you have read this book and want to discuss it with me, then watch the video below and head to my YouTube page: bookswithdylan

Book Review & Talk: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Written by Veronica Roth
Pages: 487
Published: May 2011
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian, Romance

Goodreads Synopsis...
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series--dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

My Review...
Divergent is one of the most action packed, and fast paced books, Ive read in a long time. Things happen so quickly, you wont even have time to get to the edge of your seat.

The characters are described very well, and let you easily imagine what they would look like. The setting is very dystopian, and very dangerous. It adds to the pace, and makes strolls in the book, a little bit nerve racking. There are some world building holes, but theres 2 more books in the trilogy to fix that.

Some other problems I had with the book, was that it was really hard to like the main character sometimes. The writer made her into a very distinct and unusual person. And so it took some time to get to like her. However, this distinctness was sometimes lost, and the main character took on the usual, dystopian tough girl persona.

There were also some characters who were only skimmed over, and who we didnt get to see in depth, but have no fear, more books are near!

This was just such a fun and engaging book, it was so easy to read. And it was SO fast paced! I definitely recommend it to you.

5 out of 5!

If you have read this book and want to discuss it with me, then watch the video below and head to my YouTube page: bookswithdylan

R.E.A.D is Beginning!

R.E.A.D stands for Recommended Excellence and Awesomeness for Dylan.

The first video will be posted today on my YouTube channel, bookswithdylan.

I have been so excited to share these videos with you, and the time is finally here!

R.E.A.D. is special because I'm reading, reviewing and talking about books that YOU have recommended. The books in this series will be peoples favorite books of the year, and hopefully they will become mine as well.

I hope you enjoy this new part of my channel!

My first R.E.A.D Divergent Book Review

Book Haul + R.E.A.D.

A book haul, where Im a bit cray cray. Also an introduction to a new series on my channel called R.E.A.D.

Book Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Written by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Pages: 563
Published: December 2009
Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

Goodreads Synopsis...
There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything

My Review...
Lets be simple about this. This book is so entertaining, its fun to read, and I finished it really quickly. However thats just because I love paranormal romance. I would suggest that if you dont love that genre, that you could skip this book if it pleases you. There is going to be a movie adaptation though, so that might sway you to read it.

First off, the things I didnt like: Ethan, the main male character, and narrator of the book. Was not really a male narrator. There was nothing about him, and his thoughts that distinguished him from other female narrators. He was too nice, too politically correct, too perfect. Plus he sometimes thought like a lil old granny.

Another thing I didnt like was that the story line was not really original. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy and girl face challenge that could brake them up, but we all know it never will. I was expecting something different,  or at least something with a new twist on the same story, and I didnt get it.

Those were the things I didnt like, the romance was a bit over the top at times, but I expected it because it is paranormal romance people.

The things I liked was the way the book just sucked me in, it was entertaining and captivating. I just really love me some paranormal romance!

So for that reason, Im giving this book a 4 out of 5. If you dont love the genre I would say take a point off my rating, and see it as 3 out of 5.

This book was fun, and interesting, but it lacked something new and different. I enjoyed reading it, but I doubt Ill pick it up again. However, I will be reading the next books in the series, maybe once this whole familiar plotline is done in teh first book, the authors will do something different in the next ones. I will be sure to let you know!

Watch my video review of this book!

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Written by Stephenie Meyer
Pages: 619
Published: May 2008
Genres: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Romance, Paranormal

Goodreads Synopsis…
Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans, is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.

My Review...

If you don’t know what the Host is, then you will soon. The Host is written by the same author as the Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer. And it is being turned into a blockbuster movie, set to come out worldwide in march next year.

Now before you Twilight haters close this page angrily, asking why someone would dare mention the word Twilight. The Host is so very different to Twilight. It is first of all a Sci-fi, and not just any sci-fi. It has been labelled Sci-fi for people who don’t really like Sci-fi.

The other difference to Twilight is that the writing is SO much better. The messages discussed are deep, and important for the world today. Many people, who said they hated Twilight, also say that they love The Host. This might also be because the target audience for the novel has changed, it is an adult novel.

Although the novel is big with 600 pages, the content is unique and interesting. It was so easy for me to read, and I couldn’t stop! But it wasn’t simply a light read, it made me think, with themes sown effortlessly into the story. The Love triangle was also very unique, and made it impossible for there to be instant love, or a simple romance.

Get ready to be surprised and delighted, if you decide to read this amazing book.

5 out of 5!  

If you have read this book and want to discuss it with me, then watch the video below and head to my YouTube page: bookswithdylan

                                                                Book Talk: The Host

In the Discussion video, I also talk about possible sequels to this book, and more about the movie!