Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1 by Marissa Meyer)

Synopsis

Cinder is a girl, but not just any girl, she's a cyborg, and perhaps something more, but in her step mother's eyes. She's a slave under her own roof, with two sisters. Pearl and Peony. This isn't your typical Cinderella story, the cyborg part aside. All Cinder's ever wanted was to escape for her freedom. When Prince Kai shows up at her workplace with Nainsi, his android, Cinder knows there's a reason he doesn't want her wiped clean. And while Cinder may be just a cyborg girl, everything puts her right in the middle of a political war between the Eartheners and the Lunars.

I give 

★★★★★

It took me about two days to finish this book. Is that a good thing? Yes. It's an amazing thing. Even though Science Fiction is not my thing, I was able to give this book a shot and I absolutely loved it!

I cannot wait to see what the next three books hold. They hype on this book is so great. I've been seeing this beautiful cover everywhere! 

The book is written from a third person's point of view. What does this mean?! We can get into anyone's head! Although the main focus is mainly Cinder, we still get to see what is happening with Prince Kai. The pace of the book is fast. There's a lot going on in such little time. My heart had a hard time adjusting to some of the events and I could feel like that all the time. It's what a good book does to me. Who needs time to drink in every thing?! Nah, overwhelm me with every little event, please! Going back to the perspective talk, the fact that the author chooses to place us with different characters in some chapters creates quite the suspense and Meyer did not throw in any boring, long chapters. I have to say, everything about how this book was written was absolutely perfect.

"Imagine there was a cure, but finding it would cost you everything. 
What would you do?"

Now, let's get on the plot. I've mentioned above who this story is about. Cinder. A cyborg. She's 36% metal and the rest very human. But is that really all she is? Nevermind. Moving on. This cyborg girl, with two sisters. Pearl and fourteen year old Peony, who is undoubtedly sweet and surprisingly gets along with our Cinderella. They live in New Beijing, a place where the greatest threat is the plague, Letumosis. After her dear sister, Peony catches the plague at an old junk yard, Cinder is punished by Adri, her stepmother, by being sent as a volunteer to be a test subject for the very same plague, and everything changes for her as she finds more about herself inside the lab's walls than anywhere else. Dr. Erland does not tell her everything though.

"I'm sure i'll feel much more grateful when I find a guy who think complex wiring in a girl is a turn-on."

Cinder is a very... cute character. Yes. Cute. Her actions are innocent, despite her strong personality. With the disability to produce tears and blush, her stepmother finds her inhuman, even though she is fully capable of feeling every little thing that hurts her emotionally. I would have to say the romance going on in this book kind of lacks a lot. As much as I wanted her moments with Prince Kai to prolong, there wasn't much going on. Except this sweet cyborg kissed him and the reaction we expected had not occurred. I'll have to admit, some things were, however, very easily predicted, like the fact that she is princess Selene. I didn't expect the Lunar part, but then as soon as she found out, I was so sure. 

"Kai cleared his throat. Stood Straighter. "I assume you're going to the ball?"
"I-I don't know. I mean, no. No, I'm sorry, I'm not going to the ball."
Kai drew back, confused. "Oh well...but...maybe you would change your mind? Because I am, you know."
"The prince."
"Not bragging," he said quickly. "Just a fact."

For a man in this story, Prince Kai lacks the masculine features I look for in the ideal man for a story with so much going on. Prince Kai came off as a wuss. Yes. A WUSS. Why, you ask? Because even though he was a little human with little control over Princess Witch-head's magic/glamour, he could've done more, or acted more superior, I mean, in the end, the whole world did look at him as a freaking Emperor, and he lacked judgement and probably character development overall.  Perhaps there will be more to expect from the mighty Emperor in the next few books. I would've liked him to be more controling (cuz' he's the damn prince) and perhaps more... arrogant? Yes, that would've been nice. 

Now, the villain of this book would be a Lunar, Queen Levana. Basically what a Lunar should be is: Creatures with the ability to glamour/manipulate people/humans into seeing and believing anything they want them to believe. And, yes they live on the moon, hence where "Lunar" came from. She's a total heartless bitch that cares about nothing but herself. She killed her sister, her daughter and attempted to kill her grand daughter, Princess Selene, if i'm not mistaken. But there were rumours about her surviving the fire and escaping on earth. When Queen Levana gets to earth in her fancy spaceship, she comes with one purpose. To become the Empress of New Beijing. (Marry Prince Kai) and if that happens, the war between the Lunars and the Eartheners would be prevented.

This heartbreaking story ended with sweet, sweet Cinder being imprisoned by Prince Kai. What a twisty turn everything took. And Cinder is left with only one option. To escape and meet Dr. Erland in Africa. 

Here's the most heartbreaking part of this story. 

(Page 282)

"She knelt over the pile of worthless parts that Adri had left. for her to find. A beat-up tread punctures with pebbles and debris. An ancient fan with a crooked blade. Two aluminium arms-one that still had Peony's velvet ribbon tied around the wrist. Clenching her jaw, she started sorting through the pieces carefully. One by one. Her fingers trembled over every mangled screw. Every bit of melted plastic. She shook her head, silently pleading. Pleading. Finally she found what she was searching for. With a dry, grateful sob, she crumpled over her knees, squeezing Iko's worthless personality chip against her chest."

OH MY GOD WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO IKO?

"Prince Kai! Check my fan, I think i'm overheating."

I love Iko so much, please be in the next book!

Unravel Me (Shatter Me series #2 By Tahere Mafi)

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Review

I give  ★★★★★

I wasn't sure where this book was going, with the underground people and all that. All Juliette ever did was feel sorry for herself

"I'm a monster."

Oh don't touch me.

"Adam are you ok? Did I kill you?

"I could've killed you, I could've killed you, Adam-"

ENOUGH!

Gosh, halfway through this book this woman won't stop feeling sorry for herself, so what if he dies? It's not her fault. None of this is!

And all of this stops as soon as Kenji finally says: 

"You have to live with it, just like the rest of us." 

"You and Kent need to sort out your drama ASAP."

And I think this guy saved Juliette from all the imaginary slaps I would have given her if she felt sorry for herself one more time.

Juliette also catches a glimpse of Warner's humanity at the beginning of the book. I had to read "Destroy Me", a novella on Warner's point of view to see what he'd been doing for the first 100 pages of "Unravel Me".

I loved so much about this book, especially that Juliette improved so much and developed into this new person, with courage. It was a slow improvement, and I suppose I didn't see her greatest potential here but her character was different. She got up and she faced her abilities. She ends her relationship with Adam as an act of protection, and I suppose without being in a relationship with him, she is more able to be independent. Especially when she faces Warner's father, that was so great. 

All I know is that my hand is around Anderson's throat and I've pinned him to the wall, so overcome by a blind, burning, all-consuming rage that I think my brain has already caught on fire and dissolved into ash. 

I squeeze a little harder

He's sputtering. He's gasping. He's trying to get at my arms, clawing limp hands at my body and he's turning red and blue and purple and I'm enjoying it. I'm enjoying it so, so much. 

I think I'm smiling.

This is the real juliette we all want, and a glimpse of her is what we get to see in this book. I loved this scene, mostly because it all took me by surprise and I would not stop reading, I was a machine with no stop button and it was beautiful. 

And then my favourite parts come along, where Juliette needs to visit Warner for information until those visits just sort of become a necessity. I loved those short moments. I knew it would be the beginning of something more between them. 

"He hasn't moved an inch since I stepped into this room. He's resting on his side, his back to the wall, his left arm tucked under his face, his right arm against his torso, his entire body perfect bare, strong, smooth, and smelling faintly of soap. I don't know why I can't stop staring at him." 

This is so sweet, she's finally discovered that she's physically attracted to him! Ah. Finally. 

I suppose this book is more about the development of her relationship with Warner, and it could not have made me happier. It was such a great book, with tiny little events that complete the entire story. 

Kenji is another favourite character. He's just so down to earth, honest and funny. He definitely makes things a lot easier for Juliette, and I would give him so much credit for his friendship and advice. He's made me laugh countless times and I don't know if this book would have been the same without him.

"I mean, I just have to say-the last line? 'I wish I could love you less'? That was genius.Really, really nice. I think Winston actually shed a tear-" 

DIED.

This book is about choosing between Adam and Warner, I only hope that your choice is as good as mine. And the next one is better.

Shatter Me (#1 By Tehereh Mafi)

I am a monster

I'm more than human

My touch is lethal

My touch is power

I am their weapon

I will fight back

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Review

I give ★★★★☆

Even though it was more of a 3.5/5 stars, I think this book deserves 4/5 stars because I am not completely against it. I will continue the series and I will read the next few books. 

I was drawn by the beginning. it was so suspenseful and strange at one point, almost like listening to water drops in a quiet empty echo-y room. This is what the first few chapters were to me, until beautiful Adam was introduced and then it just got awkward, which I liked, I wanted to see where this book was going and so I read. 

I recommend no breaks. 

As I have stopped for a few days from reading the book, the idea of getting back and reading was a big no-thank-you-maybe-later. 

Juliette is such a different character, she thinks of herself as the monster, the villain of her story and the only to harm others. I think the fact that abilities are introduced in the book is beyond what I have read. Her personality seems complicated and lost and I hope to learn and find out more of her struggles in the next few days. 

Adam is a whole different story. It feels like he's this super-in-love-kid which is nice, but annoying. I was hoping he'd stick to being an ass just like the beginning when he was first introduced. It made Juliette's story more interesting. Perhaps if he was paid by someone else to get her out of Warner's walls and then falling for her, maybe that would've been better. Someone should write a fan-fiction of this book.. 

I immediately got attached to Warner, despite his odd name, the controlling-bossy-young-jerk. Yep, definitely the right description of what Juliette needs, even though Adam kind of balances out the monster she thinks she is with his kindness and such. I hate that she is Warner's weakness, that he directly falls for her words and actions. He's no idiot, so why does he act like one? Hopelessly in love with her is not the answer I want.  

Don't stop reading this book!

And

Don't stop with this book!

I believe Unravel Me will be better.

Elixir (by Hilary Duff) Review

Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.'

Review: 

I read this book with the thought that there won't be a second or a third book. When it ended, it seemed as if I was expecting that. It wasn't quite a slap in the face, just an expectation I was willing to accept. Despite other books and other stories, this one was like none. It was the way it was written that I was drawn to. As I said on Goodreads, it flowed in the right direction at the right pace. 

Clea's character seemed like one of those kinds, sad, confused, still holding on to the past, only it never occurred to her or to me that she was holding on to the far far off past, one she didn't know of. One only her soul, and her soul-mate Sage, knew of. That is the story I can and would love to continue reading, which is why I did. I loved it and I'm even more glad that there are two other books. 

Rayna is just amazing, I know I use that word a lot these days, but a best friend like her? Who doesn't want one? It's a must have in anyone's lifetime. I found those eye conversations amusing, also because I know what it feels like, I use to have that with my past best friend. It is hard to find friends that are not jealous of you, and because of Rayna, I felt like Clea could go through the third world war with her by her side, and both would come out alive anyways, because friendship can only do so much to a person. 

Sage... Well, he is described as a beautiful boy, I can only think of cute, not 'hot'. I'm not mentally attracted to him, like I am with the characters I've read about in the past books, but I was more than happy to see that Clea had chosen wisely, between the puppy-boy and the mysterious-one, my choice wouldn't have been any different. 

Puppy-boy being Ben, I think being a guy who follows Clea everywhere and won't move on or just- I don't know, I think his character is a turn-off, especially since he can get so annoying and frustrating, even Clea sees that and I'm so glad for that. I'm glad he's not the one for her and I'm glad he's the one to ruin everything because it wasn't her fault, it was his, and it's always his and history repeating might sound like a cliche but  it fits in so rightly for this book. 

Hoping for the best when I'll read the next one. 

Total stars: 4.5  -  5

Beach Book

What is the magic book of this summer to me?

You might have guessed it right. It is summer. I am a teenager after all, and the last but not the least, the summer mood is on!

The Summer I turned Pretty!

Everyone talks about it. So, I found the perfect time to squeeze in a little book like that.

A weekend at the beach, with the perfect book in hand. What makes suntanning better?

What sets the mood, if you're not at the beach. This is basically the definition of summer.