Mini-Reviews {5}

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel

Author: Ransom Riggs

Release Date: October 29th 2013

Publisher: Yen Press

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Bought

Goodreads

When Jacob Portman was a boy, his grandfather regaled him with stories of his fantastic life at Miss Peregrine's home during the Second World War, even sharing photos of the remarkable children with whom he resided. As Jacob grew up, though, he decided that these photos were obvious fakes, simple forgeries designed to stir his youthful imagination. Or were they...?

Following his grandfather's death - a scene Jacob literally couldn't believe with his own eyes - the sixteen-year-old boy embarks on a mission to disentangle fact from fiction in his grandfather's tall tales. But even his grandfather's elaborate yarns couldn't prepare Jacob for the eccentricities he will discover at Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children!

Graphic novels are even worse than hardcovers: they're beautiful and I want to pet them and read them but they're so damn expensive! That's the reason why this one's the only graphic novel I currently own. I was actually talking myself out of buying it but I just had to get one signed by Ransom Riggs when he visited my country years back. (Because yes, I read this back in *looks at Goodreads* 2014?! o.o)

Anyway, as this is the only graphic novel I own, this is also the only one I've read. I knew it would be a quick read but I didn't anticipate that I could read it in less than an hour. Wow. I seriously felt like I threw my money away but who cares because books are worth it! Also, the illustrations are really beautiful, just what I expected from Cassandra Jean whom I've been following on Tumblr for a long time now. 

What I appreciated most about this graphic novel is how I could revisit the first novel in half the time, especially since Miss Peregrine's felt too dragged out for me. I remember reading this before Hollow City, and now I can't wait to get my hands on the graphic novel for that second book so I can read it before I pick up Library of Souls!

RATING:

Title: The Beginning of Everything
Author: Robyn Schneider
Release Date: August 27th 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Goodreads

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life. 

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures. 

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

I'd probably get hate for what I'm about to say, but I'm going to say it anyway: I am in the opinion that this book is overhyped. I read this less than a year ago but I can't even remember much of what happens in the book, only that it reminded me so much of a John Green novel, particularly Looking for Alaska (which is my favorite JG novel, by the way). Even Cassidy Thorpe's first appearance was so much like Alaska Young's, the cool, smart, hipster dream girl with a long list of secrets.

According to my notes, though, I did like how Ezra coped with the accident. He was hopeless, often dreary, but he kept it to himself instead of running around moping and screaming how unfair life is. Ezra and Cassidy's love story is also very similar to 500 Days of Summer, with Ezra thinking of Cassidy as his savior and heroine and her being somewhat strangled because of his expectations.

Just because I think this book is overhyped doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, because I did. In fact, I plan to read it again, give it another chance. I had a worse tragedy in mind for the ending but when everything was revealed, it all clicked into place. It's not what most people would ask for, but I believe it did the characters justice, and for me that's what's most important.

MY FAVORITE PART was the overnight debate tournament. Now that is how nerds have fun.

RATING:

Title: An Abundance of Katherines

Author: John Green

Release Date: September 21st 2006

Publisher: Dutton Books
Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Bought

Goodreads

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. 

On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun - but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. 

Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.

At first I was only interested in reading this book because I loved Looking for Alaska, but then the cover got a redesign and I just had to own it in hardcover and naturally, I had to read it. I remember feeling up to something quirky when I picked this up, and boy, quirky was exactly what I got. 

Math is my biggest enemy. Like, I obviously love English (I love reading, duh), and Science is not so bad, but Math? Integral Calculus is what got me kicked out of two engineering programs, and although I totally - and finally - kicked the crap out of it last year, I still hate it. So to read a book that was filled with Math? My mind ran around in circles a few times while reading this.

Still, I really enjoyed it because it has John Green's signature wit, humor, and sarcasm that I will always love. No matter how inane their problems may be, his characters are always a redeeming factor in his books, and they sure are hilarious. This book made me want to go on a road trip, and I'm really looking forward to reading Paper Towns soon!

RATING:

Mini-Reviews: Camp Kiss; Unwrapping Liam; Hollow City

Title: Camp Kiss (Camp Boyfriend #0.5)
Author: J.K. Rock
Release Date: March 26th 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Free for a time period

Goodreads

The Camp Kiss That Started It All...

Lauren Carlson, a fourteen-year-old expert on the cosmos, superheroes, and science fiction trivia has a crush on her longtime camp friend, Seth. Last summer she’d dreamed about upgrading their relationship to BF/GF status and this year she has a plan... if only her well-meaning cabin mates wouldn’t interfere before she’s ready. She hasn’t even adjusted to her new braces yet, let alone imagined kissing Seth with them. When a dare pushes her out of her comfort zone, will she and Seth rocket out of the friendzone at last? There’s only one way to find out...

If I remember correctly, I got Camp Kiss when the publisher offered it for free to promote the release of Camp Boyfriend, but I only had the chance to read it a few months ago (yeah, that's how long this review is overdue) when I actually picked up the series. If you're new to the series, I really recommend starting it off with this novella because it sure provides a lot of insight that you'll need for the first book.

Lauren Carlson is back at summer camp, but this year she's excited to be there for a different reason. When before she only wanted to spend time with her closest friends, this time she's also looking forward to seeing Seth, her long-time friend and recently-developed crush. She's unsure whether to act on her feelings or not, afraid it will ruin their friendship, but when her cabinmates dare her to kiss him, she doesn't have much of a choice.

A cute, light, and fun read, I love how the writing in Camp Kiss reminded me of the butterflies and giddiness I felt whenever I saw a crush back in high school. It's that nostalgic.

MY FAVORITE PART was the kiss. Sigh :3

RATING:

Title: Unwrapping Liam (Good Girls Don't #1.5)
Author: Gennifer Albin
Release Date: April 22nd 2014
Publisher: Self-published
Age Group: New Adult
Source: Free for a time period
Goodreads

Jillian Nichols and Liam McAvoy finally got their happily ever after, but Christmas with Jillian's parents strains their new relationship. Will they ever get a minute alone?

Will Tara ever accept her daughter isn't broken?

And what will happen when Jillian finally unwraps Liam's Christmas present?

The holidays have never been so steamy.

This novella came out almost a year after the first book in the series, so by the time I read it I was practically jumping up and down in my seat with excitement. In Unwrapping Liam we see more of Jillian and Liam together, but made hilarious and tense because they are to spend the Christmas holidays with Jillian's parents.

Under the constant scrutiny of Tara, Jillian's easy-to-hate mother, her relationship with Liam is put to the test. Their interactions are more heated with desire because they need to sneak around like teenagers or risk being judged and reprimanded by Tara, but of course they get caught and of course it's amusing, haha. But as expected, Jillian grew tired of playing by her mom's rules soon enough, and let's just say I wasn't able to look at Christmas trees the same way for quite some time after reading this.

Overall, Unwrapping Liam did a swell job of getting me pumped up for Teaching Roman (which, spoiler alert, I also loved) and making me wish I had my own Liam. Now, where the heck is the third book in this series?!

MY FAVORITE PART was Liam making pies. Sweet Jesus.

RATING:

Title: Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children #2)

Author: Ransom Riggs

Release Date: January 17th 2014

Publisher: Quirk Books

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Bought

Goodreads

September 3, 1940.

Ten peculiar children flee an army of deadly monsters.

And only one person can help them - but she's trapped in the body of a bird.

The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom.

Hollow City draws readers into a richly imagined world of telepathy and time loops, of sideshows and shapeshifters - a world populated with adult "peculiars", murderous wights, and a bizarre menagerie of uncanny animals. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

I was more disappointed than anyone when I read Miss Peregrine's and found it somehow... underwhelming, which is why cracking this sequel open came with a certain amount of hesitance. I think I finally picked it up when the book practically flew off my shelf and thumped me on the head (spoiler alert: it didn't, but wouldn't that be awesome.)

Anyway, reading Hollow City was definitely easier and more fun than the first book. Right off the bat, I could tell that it would be more exciting, with less dragging and more of what I love most about this series: action and adventure with a magical group of, uh, kids. We also learn that there is just so much more to the peculiarity of the world that Riggs has created, and I can't wait to see all of these in a Tim Burton film. Man, it's going to be awesome.

Strange, I thought, how you can be living your dreams and your nightmares at the very same time.

Another thing I liked about Hollow City is how it's more on the historical fiction side than the first book, and how there was just so much more going on in it. I don't know if you can tell by how many times I've used the word in this review but in a nutshell, this sequel is just that: more.

MY FAVORITE PART was that shocking, twisty ending. Definitely didn't see that one coming.

RATING:

Mini-Reviews: We Were Liars; The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Title: We Were Liars

Author: E. Lockhart

Release Date: May 13th 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Age Group: Young Adult

Goodreads | The Book Depository

A beautiful and distinguished family.

A private island.

A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.

A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.

A revolution. An accident. A secret.

Lies upon lies.

True love.

The truth.

I knew only one thing about We Were Liars before I read it: it wouldn't disappoint, and it truly did not. One is better off going into this book without knowledge of anything that happens in it, because it is a book meant to be experienced with an untainted mind. All you need to know is that it involves four brilliant kids who have their entire lives ahead of them, and they also happen to spend their summers in a private island.

We Were Liars is, quite frankly, a slow book. It is lyrical and confusing, and the easily-bored may even have a hard time finishing it. It's not for everyone, and even the author herself knew that readers would either love it or hate it; there is no middle ground. But if you do start reading it, I highly suggest just going with the flow, because you are in for a shock, I promise you that. 

I honestly have no idea what more to say about this book, so I'll end this by sharing that I finished reading this in the employee's lounge of my office, and that wasn't one of my best ideas because there were tears involved.

MY FAVORITE PART is that chapter. If you've read this, you know what I mean.

P.S. I'm giving away a signed copy of this book here! ;D

RATING:

Title: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Author: E. Lockhart
Release Date: March 25th 2008
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Age Group: Young Adult

Goodreads | The Book Depository

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:
Debate Club.
Her father’s “bunny rabbit.”
A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:
A knockout figure.
A sharp tongue.
A chip on her shoulder.
And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Laundau-Banks.
No longer the kind of girl to take “no” for an answer.
Especially when “no” means she’s excluded from her boyfriend’s all-male secret society.
Not when her ex boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places.
Not when she knows she’s smarter than any of them.
When she knows Matthew’s lying to her.
And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.

Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16:
Possibly a criminal mastermind.

This is the story of how she got that way.

Disreputable History was in my TBR list for a long time, but I only got around to reading it when #ELockhartinPH was announced. Having read We Were Liars first, I thought this one sounded lighter than my first Lockhart read, and it sure was, but it actually has its own dark tone - it's very subtle, but it's there. 

But if you don't want to get too critical, then it's enough to know that this book is another brilliant contemporary from E. Lockhart. The lady sure knows how to go deep into her characters' heads, and reading this as easy as sharing stories with a friend. This is the story of a bright girl blossoming into one hell of a woman, but it also shows that just because someone's whip smart doesn't mean she has it easy. An over-active brain can just as easily be a crowded prison, and Frankie, model student and, for the most part, a good daughter though she may be, isn't quite satisfied with how her friends and family treat her. She thinks they see her as fragile and predictable, and this book is basically her going to great lengths to prove to them that she's not.

Overall, Frankie's story is entertaining and imaginative, and aside from the protagonist, we get to know a lot of delightful characters through her eyes. The ending isn't what I'd imagined it would be at all, but it wouldn't be a Lockhart book if it were.

MY FAVORITE PART is

"It is better to be alone, she figures, than to be with someone who can't see who you are."

RATING:

Mini-Reviews: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children; Fracture Me

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children #1)

Author: Ransom Riggs

Release Date: June 7th 2011

Publisher: Quirk Books

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Bought

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. 

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. 

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Miss Peregrine's caught my eye the moment I spotted it in the bookstore, but it wasn't until Ransom Riggs' book signing last year that I finally picked it up. I didn't know what to expect from this book but because of the weird, creepy photos - I was so creeped out that, at times, I closed my eyes before turning the page, but they really made it easier to immerse into the story - I seriously thought this was a horror story or something. It's not.

Dark yet funny, this book is a slow-building and atmospheric mystery. I really admired how Jacob tried to unravel his grandfather's life so he could move on with his, especially when he first explored the old house in Cairnholm Island because I've watched enough horror movies to know that if I were him, I would have ran away from there, screaming like a banshee.

Until now, though, I'm still not sure why Miss Peregrine's didn't amaze me much. It was highly-original and suspenseful, but for the first half I had a hard time staying focused on it. I also think Jacob and Emma's relationship progressed a bit too fast for my liking. But if you're looking a breath of fresh air in the YA genre, then this is the book you'd want to get your hands on.

MY FAVORITE PART was (this is just a tad bit spoiler-y)

"Millard! Who's the prime minister?"
"Winston Churchill," he said. "Have you gone daft?"
"What's the capital of Burma?"
"Lord, I've no idea. Rangoon."
"Good! When's your birthday?"
"Will you quit shouting and let me bleed in peace!"

:)) 

RATING:

Title: Fracture Me (Shatter Me #2.5)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: December 17th 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam's perspective.

As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam's focus couldn't be further from the upcoming battle. He's reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend's life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James's safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It's time for war.

On the battlefield, it seems like the odds are in their favor—but taking down Warner, Adam's newly discovered half brother, won't be that easy. The Reestablishment can't tolerate a rebellion, and they'll do anything to crush the resistance... including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.

So. In my efforts to put off reading Ignite Me because I just don't want this series to end yet, I've finally read this. I actually bought a Kindle copy when it was first released but I decided to wait because of all the... negative things I've heard.

Who's laughing now? Us who've been in Team Warner all along, of course! ;D

But first I'll focus on the good. Through Adam's eyes - because let's admit it, Warner is about three steps away from Juliette's level of sanity - we see just how unstable yet kind Juliette is. We also see more of Adam's relationship with James. He's the kid's brother but due to the life they've endured, he's actually more like a father. His top priority is James' safety and well-being, and that's nothing short of admirable. I know some people hate that he chose James over Juliette but think of it this way - if he chose to run after Juliette instead, wouldn't you just hate him more? I know I would.

There's actually only one thing I hated in this novella: Adam's view of Juliette. He thinks he's got her - and everyone else, too - figured out, and he thinks of Juliette like she's a scared, weak, little girl who would cower in a corner at the first sight of gore.

She would've been so much safer if she'd stayed behind. Why does no one ever listen to me?

Because unlike you, Mr. I Have A Practically Useless Special Power, Juliette can punch through walls and start earthquakes. Yeah. Definitely someone I'd want on my side of the battlefield.

There's no denying now that Juliette and Adam have no reason to stay together. She loves Warner, and Adam will never be able to give Juliette enough of himself because of James. He thinks so low and weak of her while Warner has so much faith in her strength and kindness. And when Adam actually sees her being strong, it doesn't make him proud or happy - it scares him.

*waves my Team Warner flag*

MY FAVORITE PART was James asking Adam to tell Juliette not to eat his pudding :)) 

RATING:

Mini-Review: Gameboard of the Gods; Outcast

Title: Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1)

Author: Richelle Mead

Release Date: June 4th 2013

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

I've heard nothing but great things about Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series, and while this new Adult series of hers sounds nothing like her YA series, I think it's natural for me to expect a lot from Gameboard of the Gods. Unfortunately, this convolution of plot ideas has left me disappointed.

It started out well, I suppose, what with immediate action thanks to Mae, the heroine of the story in every sense of the word, already kicking ass within the first few pages. But when the plot really set in, the whole thing just went downhill. The first reason for that was the romance, which felt unnecessary and actually distracted from the suspense and slowed down the pace. It wasn't quite insta-love so much as insta-lust, and I don't know what this says about the characters, but if their ages weren't specified, I would've thought them to be teens.

Another problem I had with this book was the lack of world-building. Up until the end of the third quarter, I didn't fully understand how this futuristic world worked, and even now I can't tell you how exactly it came to be. But anyway, the last ten percent of the book certainly set up well for the sequel which I will watch out for.

MY FAVORITE PART was when Mae and Justin finally got to the bottom of the murders.

RATING:

Title: Outcast

Author: Adrienne Kress

Release Date: June 4th 2013

Publisher: Diversion Books

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Goodreads | Amazon

After six years of “angels” coming out of the sky and taking people from her town, 16-year-old Riley Carver has just about had it living with the constant fear. When one decides to terrorize her in her own backyard, it’s the final straw. She takes her mother’s shotgun and shoots the thing. So it’s dead. Or... not? In place of the creature she shot, is a guy. A really hot guy. A really hot alive and breathing guy. Oh, and he’s totally naked.

Not sure what to do, she drags his unconscious body to the tool shed and ties him up. After all, he’s an angel and they have tricks. When he regains consciousness she’s all set to interrogate him about why the angels come to her town, and how to get back her best friend (and almost boyfriend) Chris, who was taken the year before. But it turns out the naked guy in her shed is just as confused about everything as she is.

He thinks it’s 1956.

Set in the deep south, OUTCAST is a story of love, trust, and coming of age. It’s also a story about the supernatural, a girl with a strange sense of humor who’s got wicked aim, a greaser from the 50’s, and an army of misfits coming together for one purpose: To kick some serious angel ass.

Ah, this book. I shall remember all the feels it gave me until the next time I read it, because Outcast is one of those books I'll never get tired of. And thinking about it now, it's really similar to Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, not because of the angel aspect that both books have, but because of the addictive quality that will make me remember the stories for a long time.

Riley's voice was captivatingly entertaining. Hers was the brand of sarcasm and wit that I've always enjoyed, and she felt like a real teenager with insecurities and a hidden want for attention. Meanwhile, to say that I loved Gabe would be an understatement. He had the typical bad boy thing going on, condescending and womanizing, but then he also enjoyed putting up Christmas decorations and singing old songs.

I admit, what kept me turning the pages was my curiosity and concern for what would happen with Gabe rather than the angels and whatnot, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. The mystery was nice, actually, and the story took a lot of totally unforeseeable turns—the most predictable of which might have been the ending. It was bittersweet—well, more bitter than sweet, as I could tell with my tears—but inevitable and realistic.

MY FAVORITE PARTS were the last lines. *cue tears again*

RATING: