Book Review: The End Games by T. Michael Martin

Book: The End Games
Author: T. Michael Martin
Rating: 3.5/5 stars - soooooo it ends there?

Synopsis (as found on Goodreads):

It happened on Halloween.

The world ended.

And a dangerous Game brought it back to life.

Seventeen-year-old Michael and his five-year-old brother, Patrick, have been battling monsters in The Game for weeks.

In the rural mountains of West Virginia, armed with only their rifle and their love for each other, the brothers follow Instructions from the mysterious Game Master. They spend their days searching for survivors, their nights fighting endless hordes of “Bellows”—creatures that roam the dark, roaring for flesh. And at this Game, Michael and Patrick are very good.

But The Game is changing.

The Bellows are evolving.

The Game Master is leading Michael and Patrick to other survivors—survivors who don’t play by the rules.

And the brothers will never be the same.

T. Michael Martin’s debut novel is a transcendent thriller filled with electrifying action, searing emotional insight, and unexpected romance.

Review:

OK, so I have an unsaid tradition. Every year for Halloween, I look for a "Halloween-y" book to read for the holiday. When I say "Halloween-y", I don't mean vampires or werewolves- I mean something that isn't a common paranormal novel. I think ghosts, demons, paranormal mysteries, etc. (Or in this case zombies.)

So two years ago I read Anna Dressed in Blood which was FABBBBULOUS.  Then last year I forgot to get a book.... heh.

So I was running through this small list in my head of what I could read this Halloween and I was debating Warm Bodies or the next book in the Body Finder series when BAM IT HIT ME. The End Games.

It was perfect; even the date of the apocalypse was Halloween. And recommended by John Green? SCORE. Plus the author was a YouTuber which instantly made him more awesome.

The sad thing is I didn't finish it on Halloween cause Adrian Ivashkov demanded for my attention. Heh.

But even without that, I don't think I would've finished The End Games anyways. It took me forever just to burn through 100 pages. True, the font was a little smaller so more words on the pages but that's not totally the reason why.

The main reason why it took me a while to read this novel is the narrating style. The End Games is written in this very sharp, survival instinct narrative that is somewhat difficult to swallow down. I was confused at certain phrases that the author invented, which caused me to slow down. I reduced my reading speed by about half. Some sentence phrasing is awkward, causing me to pause and re-read. Although it makes for a unique style of storytelling, at certain points it makes me want to put down the novel because I needed a break. The style was difficult to read as the rhythm and flow was somewhat disrupted and disjointed at points. I guess it works for some people. I'm on the side where it didn't work with me.

However, the plot held my attention as the plot was captivating and intense. Although the writing did make me have to decipher the plot a little, I like how the novel was put together plot wise. This book was like a puzzle. The beginning spent a lot of time laying the pieces out, then after we slowly begin to sort and put the pieces together, sometimes in surprising ways. Even random pieces that we didn't realize we needed are brought in.

Character wise, I actually found Patrick really annoying. Yeah, he's a kid, and he's a big part of Michael's survival will, but he was honestly quite annoying to me. It also causes Michael to use this very immature language style, and it reflects in the writing which bothers me. I enjoyed Michael's character, but I found I didn't really care for anyone else. Like people die and I'm emotionless.
The synopsis lies about the romance. There's barely any. Which is actually a good thing considering I would not suggest started a relationship in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. And it was refreshing to not have a romance in between things.

I did however enjoy that survival instinct feel Michael had. It reminded me intensely of Saba in Blood Red Road- how she calls that final survival instinct of hers "the red-hot". It gave an interesting twist in the story and added an interesting side to Michael's character.
However, calling it the "yes-yes" bothered me. Of all the phrases.... "yes-yes" felt so childish.

Also, the ending... I was surprised how this was a standalone. I wanted just a little more of a closure. Just like another 500 ish words or something. It closed at a somewhat awkward point in my opinion. Like done, but not quite done, but done enough that it could be called done.

Overall, I'm slightly disappointed by this novel- with a recommendation that high, and so many popular authors commenting on it, I expected a little more from this novel. I did enjoy it though, and had a few laughs. It was hard to swallow down, but it was captivating with a desperate atmosphere. I like this book, but I think more could've been done with it and the writing style could try to flow a little better.

Series Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Series: Legend 

Author: Marie Lu

Books: Legend, Prodigy, and Champion

Series Rating: 5/5- a heart racing and pounding adventure from start to end

Book #1's rating: 5/5- an exciting start to a revolution

Book #2's rating: 5/5- my heart just died a little. Just a little.

Synopsis of Legend (as found on Goodreads):

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. 

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills. 

Review:

*SPOILER FREE FOR CHAMPION, really really minor spoiler-y hints at what happens in Legend and Prodigy 

ANOTHER DYSTOPIAN SERIES ENDING. WHAT IS LIFE. It's like saying goodbye to such an old friend. It's another series I read when I first began to be a serious YA reader and I was in the midst of my dystopian rage (thanks to Divergent). And yet here we are now. The end.

Let us go through Carmen's fangirl emotions.

*********************************************************************************

Legend:

OH DAMN. S*** just hit the fan. Time to get to the heart of the plot and action! Oh wait jokes I have to wait for a second book... -.-

Prodigy: 

*cheers at badass fighting and action 

REVOLUTIONS WOOO

*pauses

*le gasp

*CONVULSES ON GROUND

*try to remember what oxygen is

*weep on the floor in a complete utter destroyed mess

Champion:
*HEART RACING
*PANTING
*CRYING
*moment of silence from shock
*gasp
* soft tears drip down
* blink
*small smile of hope

*********************************************************************************

I kid you not guys, dystopian series have got to STOP doing this to me. They are wrecking my life. (*cough, the book that shall not be named.)

Another great dystopian series, what can I say? Legend is utterly enthralling, captivating me with heart pounding action and suspense, and holy crap I can't believe it but it actually made politics interesting to me.

Legend begins as a relatively simple dystopian story, not an incredible amount of depth, but offers much potential.

Prodigy is when the world building and the richness of the characters come into play. They move the plot and Marie Lu is very smart on using character relationships to push other relationships forward along with plot. Everything is very interconnected and nothing is filler or irrelevant. Everything links in a way- whether certain actions/scenes are included because it was crucial to plot or adds depth to character, further enhancing and establishing their character.

Marie Lu also apparently learned cliffhangers around then too. -.-

Champion is much like Prodigy, very linked and action packed. There is no longer much world building but rather the world that was build comes into play to push on the plot and further establish depth and the struggles in the politics that anchor this revolution.

The romance between Day and June is at a perfect balance with all the other elements in the books. Usually the true most authentic and best dystopian series to me are the ones where the romance has equal standing to everything else around them. The characters not only care about the romance but they also value everything else- like family, friends, the fate of the world, etc. They are reluctant to sacrifice either one for the other and it shows especially in Champion. They are two amazing people with incredible obstacles between each other, and it's not overwhelming. They don't spend every moment with each other.

And of course, what everyone is anxious about: the ending.

Personally... I would argue it's the best ending for the series. Sure it might not be the "happy ever after" fairytale ending, but it tied everything SO well together, it made sense not only to plot, but also to the character personalities. It's bittersweet, but it's also beautiful. To me, around the last maybe 20 pages of Champion, it took more of a contemporary turn to the atmosphere of the novel. It was well written, totally tugging at my heartstrings, and it was heartbreakingly amazing. It was sad but sweet, like... really yummy dark chocolate. (My simile (or is it metaphor?) skills guys.) I was crying, but it was more like the really like sweet hopeful tears. Trust me when I say that it's a satisfying ending. Marie could've made it a fairytale ending... but there would be some bumps in logic and it just... it would be happy but it would lack depth and meaning to the ending.

And really I think ultimately that's what matters: the meaning of the ending and how it fits the theme of the whole series. Not really if the couple ends up together. (but duh yeah of course they should cause no, we fangirls cry for the fun of it) Really it's about how it's executed and what it means.

And according to that list, Champion gets a big fat A+ from me.

If I had to compare how that ending made me feel... I would say it made me feel like how I felt after reading Eleanor and Park.


Overall, another series I am so sad to say goodbye to. Legend has been an amazing series to read, going along with me for these past three years of high school. The characters are amazing, the plot is intriguing, and it is true to its core as a dystopian series. I'm sad to see it go, but I'm excited to see whatever Marie has planned next!

November 2013

Monthly Wish List for this month and what I've read and seen this past month.

Book List: 
*synopses may be spoilery if you have not read the previous books in the series. All synopses were found on Goodreads.

Book: Sentinel (Book #5 in the Covenant series)
Author: Jennifer Armentrout
Release Date: November 2nd
Synopsis:

It's a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself.

Note from Carmen: AHHHHH THE LAST BOOK TO SAY I'M EXCITED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

Book: Champion (Book #3 in the Legend trilogy)
Author: Marie Lu
Release Date: November 5th
Synopsis:

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion? 

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.


Note from Carmen: ANOTHER LAST BOOK. ANOTHER ENDING TO A DYSTOPIAN SERIES. PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW THE PATH OF ALLEGIANT. OR I WILL SERIOUSLY HATE LIFE.

Book: The Fiery Heart (Book #4 in the Bloodlines series)
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: November 19th
Synopsis:

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . .

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure—and re-education—looms larger than ever.

Pulses will race throughout this thrilling fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where no secret is safe.

Note from Carmen: Sydrian. <3

Book: Pawn (Book #1 in The Blackcoat Rebellion series)
Author: Aimee Carter
Release Date: November 26th
Synopsis:

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING. 

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. 

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Note from Carmen: (lots of notes this month huh), I wasn't incredibly impressed with Aimee's previous series but this one sounds FREAKING AWESOME.

*********************************************************************************

October Obsessions:
Books:
Allegiant (Series review here.) (SDFDGHFGKHKJFDSDHJHF WHY)
Bloodlines (Series) (Adrian Ivashkov is a new love of mine!)

Other Stuff:
Emma Approved (Web series- from the creators of LBD!)
Heirs (Kdrama) (ASDFGHJKLKJHGFDSASDFGHJK.)


Things I Read/Saw in October and Didn't Review:
Origin (Book #4 in the Lux series)
Bloodlines (Book #1 in the Bloodlines series)

Breakable
The Golden Lily (Book #2 in the Bloodlines series)
The Indigo Spell (Book #3 in the Bloodlines series)


Left on Shing Wong (one of my favourite shorts by them so far!)

Series Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Don't deny it it guys, you so knew this was coming.
*SPOILER FREE TO THE BEST OF MY EXTENT. ANY CLUES YOU PICK UP FROM THIS I'M SORRY. 

Series: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Books: Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant

Previous Reviews: Divergent, Insurgent

Rating: 5/5 stars- no words can describe all my feelings.

Synopsis of Divergent (as found on Goodreads):

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.

Review:

I'm done Allegiant guys. Finished 4 hours after I got it on the release date and now I bring you my review. This is going to be clean, simple, and probably a lot of feels.

Fangirl Breakdown:

*********************************************************************************
Divergent:
WHAT DID I JUST READ WOWZA THIS IS SO AMAZING. OH MY GOSH MUST READ MORE MORE MORE FOUR MORE MORE DYSTOPIAN.

Insurgent:
Slower... not as interesting in terms of plot but OH MY GOD CLIFFHANGER WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT SDFGJKLGKJHFHDCXV JIOHEBFVCFJDBDV SOMEONE GIVE ME ALLEGIANT.

Allegiant:
*cries
*cries
*cries
*cries
*cries
 *wails
*sits on her bed glancing at the homework she needs to do then glances at her copy of Allegiant and just feel numb. And dead. And alone. And that the world will never be alright again.

*********************************************************************************

I'm really actually kind of like numb guys. That kind of book coma you have after finishing a series- and then add the emotional trauma portion certain books give and you have my current feels.

Divergent was one of the first books I read when my YA addiction kicked in- I read it in the summer of the year before I started high school. This was before Divergent became a worldwide success- it was just a book that reviewers were praising to no end. After reading it- my dystopian addiction was started. I read like EVERY dystopian novel there was at the time. Divergent symbolizes as a book that started me on this path, and it's a book I will forever and ever love.

Insurgent was a lot slower. A lot of my friends couldn't get through it- even though I finished it in one sitting. :P I thought it worked well as character development, and explored a lot of themes and ideas about this series, but definitely what sold it to me was the cliffhanger. Guys, I keep flipping pages, because it COULD NOT END THERE.

The final book was hard for me. Really hard. Somehow, somewhere some instinctive part of me knew it was somehow coming around 3/4 of the book. Some lines tipped me off- certain lines that just made me feeling like this awful thing will happen...

because it has happened in other books. Certain lines in other books totally foreshadowed it subtlety. I guess my brain picked up the pattern.

I understand why it happened. It was a good solution to happen. But make no mistakes IT WAS A HARD SOLUTION. It reflected the qualities and the themes Veronica Roth wanted to represent in this series- but it was hard. I refused to believe it until the end. I'm really conflicted about it. I'm really sad. I'm really depressed. There's just so many emotions within me, swirling like a deadly vortex.

And no kidding guys... I haven't cried like that since I read The Fault in Our Stars. (no, TFIOS is not a spoiler to what happens, I'm just not a big crier. I'm a big sniffer though.)

And I don't think I'll ever really recover.

I think I'm going to add the title of Most Heartbreaking Ending Written with Allegiant. (The one holding the original title was The Fault in Our Stars)

Overall, a great dystopian series really questioning the themes of humanity and what truly makes us a "good" person, giving us great depth in this series.  Veronica Roth,  I will gladly read any more books by you, sad or not.

Book Review: Symbol of Hope by Marisette Burgess

Name: Symbol of Hope (Book #3 in the Symbol of Hope trilogy)
Author: Marisette Burgess
Rating: 4.25/5 stars- the joy of god killing
Series Rating: 4/5 stars- original and fresh
Book #1's review
Book #2's review

Synopsis (as found on Goodreads):

“I love you too much, Kasey. I know I will end up paying for it.” ~Dion

Heaven, Hell, and Earth are threatened. God has asked the only living granddaughter of Pandora to help fight off the Greek deities and save his Earth. Here’s the thing, she never believed in a God and now that she knows one exists she hates him. 

Even though Kasey Reese would love to ignore her duty she is unable to escape her fate. Personal conflicts, betrayal, and love are the elements that make this situation dire for Kasey. She is about to embark on a journey with her love, an immortal saint, that guarantees no happy outcomes.

In this final book, Kasey and Dion will face mythical creatures, Greek deities, and treachery, but nothing will be as devastating as her possible end. She must reach inside herself and find qualities like courage, strength, and hope. It is her time to fulfill her destiny no matter the cost.


Review:
 * I received a e-format of this novel from the author in exchange for an HONEST review. This review is spoiler free for Symbol of Hope, but may contains spoilers for the previous novels.

WOW. So here we are. The final book in the trilogy. It didn't feel all that long ago when I first read Men of the Cave. Which, of course, I have to thank the author, Marisette for giving me a chance to review the novel and actually, reviewing the whole series.

The thing about this series I've always really enjoyed is how seamlessly the author has blended Greek Mythology and Christianity. It flows nicely and it's unique and original. It gives the series a fresh taste, reading something that's not rehashed, and is new and unknown. It also allows for debate- which side is truly the good side? The bad side? Is there even a good or bad side? The characters clearly struggle with that in the novel, and I like how that was portrayed. It gave it a bit more depth to the theme of the novel.

The plot is much more fast paced in this book than the previous others- there's a ton of action and fighting and god killing and death and sacrifices. (I think that was a lot of ands. Oops.) I enjoyed the faster moving plot,  and the new character introductions.

Romance wise, it was a little cheesy, even a little more than the other two novels. Not to say that I couldn't stand Kasey and Dion as a couple, I still enjoyed how committed and stubborn they are, just that it was just a little cheesy. Just some smiling eye rolling silly cheesy.

The ending wrapped everything up really well- almost too well. I was kind of hoping something more crazy will pop up at the end, because I felt like Kasey kind of just got it over with and it was just done. The stakes didn't rise a lot, but there were certain losses and betrayals that came along the way. I don't know, maybe it's just me being really mean to characters.

However, at the end of the day, Symbol of Hope is a great finish to the series- probably my favourite of the three. Thanks to Marisette, and I hope that this series gets some more recognition, because it really is a good series.

Anime Review: Sword Art Online

 

Anime: Sword Art Online

# of episodes: 25

Rating: 4.5/5 stars- gorgeous graphics, awesome fighting/action, and a romance that transcends the worlds 

Synopsis (from Wikipedia):

Set initially in the year 2022, a Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online (SAO) has just been released. In the game, players control their avatars just as they would with their real bodies using the Nerve Gear, a VR Helmet that stimulates the user's five senses via their brain. However, on its first day out of the beta testing period, the players soon discover that they cannot log out. The creator of the game, Akihiko Kayaba, makes an appearance shortly after and issues them an ultimatum: if they die in the game so would their bodies in the real world, and if they wish to be freed from the game, they must reach the 100th floor of the game's world and defeat the final boss. As the players try to face their new deadly predicament, two skilled swordsmen, Kirito and Asuna, are determined to win and be free. The second part of the anime takes place in ALfheim Online (ALO), a spiritual successor to SAO developed by the company who took over the maintenance of SAO during the crisis, where it is discovered that Asuna is being held captive in the new virtual world, still unable to logout and hospitalized in the real world, and follows Kirito fighting alongside new allies in ALO to rescue her.

Review:

So I caught the flu that was going around. :( However, that means...

ANIME MARATHON!!! 

I have a really low concentration and focus level when I'm sick, so it's really hard for me to read. SO... I have a Kdrama/anime marathon instead. I don't need a lot of concentration for that, and I get so excited, I forget momentarily that I'm sick, then I cough and I'm back to reality.

So I blew through about 6 episodes of Sword Art Online, and BAM. I'M DONE :D

and ohmygosh, what a ride.

This anime is exciting, with tons of action packed fighting, some fun mysteries here and there, and a really adorable romance. It's a very fun concept, and it touches on the meaning between virtual and reality worlds- who are you really? It's like the Internet today. Maybe because you're on the Internet, there are certain things you would do that you wouldn't do in real life. There's a lot of little life lessons here and there.

On top of that, the graphics are GORGEOUS, enhancing the beautiful sword fights and the world so much more. I'm cheering every time Kirito swings that badass sword of his.

Kirito and Asuna are both strong intriguing characters to watch on screen- they don't back down from a fight, and THEY ARE SO CUTE ASDFGHJKL. All the other characters support the storyline really well too- it's fun to watch everyone interact between such a great setting with a good plot.

Personally, I much prefer the first half of the anime- the stakes are a lot higher in that one, and there is a little more of a psychological element to the story. The second half... yeah I was just really pissed off at the villain. (Well... I guess you could call him psycho.) BUT OH MY GOD THE ENDING ASDFGHJKL.

Overall, I'm really surprised at how much I liked this anime- I'm usually a really intense rom-com fan when it comes to anime, but wow, I really enjoyed this, and I surprised myself by cheering at certain character's death. (What... they really kind of deserved to die.) 

SMALL SPOILER PART:

CAN I JUST SAY AWWWWWW FOR ABOUT 100 SECONDS.

Book Review: Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend by Louise Rozett

Book: Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend (Book #2 in the Confessions series)
Author: Louise Rozett
Book #1's Rating: 3.75/5 stars
Rating: 4.25/5 stars- fun, relaxing, and just plain old good classic contemporary


Synopsis (from Goodreads): 

Rose Zarelli has big plans for sophomore year—everything is going to be different. This year, she’s going to be the talented singer with the killer voice, the fabulous girl with the fashionista best friend, the brainiac who refuses to let Jamie Forta jerk her around...

...but if she’s not careful, she’s also going to be the sister who misses the signals, the daughter who can only think about her own pain, the “good girl” who finds herself in mid-scandal again (because no good deed goes unpunished) and possibly worst of all...the almost-girlfriend.

When all else fails, stop looking for love and go find yourself.

Review:

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend started out as a causal read for me. A library book I could throw in my bag without being scared of damaging it, and a book with a cover that I could read in class without people giving me looks.
(What, don't deny it, say if you brought say Origin by Jennifer Armentrout to class, there's NO WAY that your classmates WON'T give you looks.)

However, as I read on, I began enjoy the book more and more, and just completely begin to FEEL for these characters! There was so much more character depth in this novel than the previous one, the characters were so much more interesting and intricate. Just... wow.

I really fell in love with Rose's character this time- growing stronger and really trying to improve and find her place in this world. She acted how I probably would've. She was fun to go through the entire book with, you were cheering her on, urging to throw a punch or something, being sad with her, and maybe melting a little with her.

Just a little.

I feel like the plot follows a very similar structure, which is fine, because really I never had a problem with it in the first place- although I hope the next book starts exploring new themes and ideas- maybe about the new start in Rose's life, etc. I think the bullying topic has been quite exhausted.

Really, the most intriguing thing and the thing that caught with me and resonated with me the most in this novel are ALL the characters. There is no shallow passerby character. They are all there for a reason. And they ALL HAVE DEPTH. They were so realistic, weaving in and out of Rose's life like how it would actually happen in reality.

To sum it up, I would say that I would be happy to go back to this series when the third book is out and see what is up next for Rose Zarelli. It's a fun, cute, delightfully charming and a really engrossing read.