Review: Legend

Legend by Marie Lu

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Usually, it takes me several chapters before a book really piques my interest, but The Legend is one of the exceptions. The book got me from the very first chapter and held my interest until the very last page. I especially liked the ending - for which I find the author commendable in being able to leave me wanting more, without the use of a cliffhanger.

There was a time when my interest dipped, because the sudden cheesy scene is so out of place in their situation, when they were supposedly scrambling for their lives (or for vengeance). I found myself rolling my eyes, but I realized later that the scene was essential in speeding up the pace of the story, which works fine with me.

There was also the issue regarding the characters. Their personalities are mostly similar in that they don't have a distinct trait to set them apart. And since the story was told using the first POV of supposedly two different characters, the similar "voice" could create confusion as to who really is speaking. The reader is left to his own devices to look for the clues - such as the format of the text, the use of the pronouns and the differences in their situations - which is not really hard to do, but it lessens the reading experience.

Maybe I'm being too generous at this time to give The Legend 5 stars, because I've recently read books which I didn't really like, but I was also able to overlook the problem with the characterization, since I reasoned that it's just the first book. I still have faith that the sequel would delve much deeper into the characters, while maintaining or maybe even improving the "tone" of the first.


UPDATE: Changed rating to 4.5 stars. 4 days have passed and I'm barely holding onto the exceptional stuff. Legend was enjoyable to read, but unfortunately it seems it will not stay in my mind for long. Unless it follows up with a great sequel.



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Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



On one hand, the book was interesting in its own way. There were some creditworthy characters, such as Izil and Zuzana. The setting was also wonderfully written, as it is almost always fittingly described in such a way that one can easily imagine the world of Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

On the other hand, though, I just couldn't get where the story is trying to take me. It felt like taking one step forward and then two steps back. Plus, I just cannot forget the patience it took me in reading the first chapters. I almost gave up on it. And I didn't even find the reason for such scenes.

The Daughters of Smoke and Bone has its appeal, but I find that it is very much overrated.



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Review: Everneath

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



In the beginning, I had trouble reading it. I got frustrated with all the time-jumps and I didn't really get the purpose of the countdown when at that time, they didn't even know when the "event" would happen and what would happen anyway. It's true that the narrator may remember the approximate dates at the time it was being retold, but it was terribly baffling to a reader, who couldn't really relate to the countdown (at least in the first few chapters).

It's one of those stories, though, which redeems itself gradually. By the time the foundations of the story were set in place and the pace of the story finally started to move, I was able to immerse myself into Nik's journey.

There were a few other areas in which I can rant (negatively) about, but despite these, Everneath was an interesting read.



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Review: Wanderlove

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



3.5 stars. Who doesn't want the idea of traveling and leaving everything behind, when life becomes too tough? .
      
A story on making mistakes and growing up. Of fear and its confrontation. Of distrust and forgiveness. Of losing hope and gaining it again. It's a young adult novel that aims at your heartstrings, amidst a sea of dystopia and saccharine. It doesn't depend on fantasy for it to be interesting. It doesn't beautify and falsify ideas; it tells the story the way it should be told. Admittedly, there are more profound stories out there, but "Wanderlove" holds its own as a young adult novel.

I love that it's not too fluff-y or dramatic. The characters have burns and scars, which they hide beneath their armors, without broadcasting, "Woe is me". I also like how they established the relationship - slow and without that sudden "BAM", just the way that characters who are 'healing' should form relationships.

I just can't happily give it 4 stars, though. Despite the fact that I liked the book, I still felt like there's an important piece missing. For me, it lacked that strong theme to hold the ideas together. 

While there had been many character-building on Bria and there had been enough on Rowan, it felt like they weren't enough, like there's too much but there's nothing that stuck out (even Rowan's unquestionable and unconditional reliability was scratched at the end. Fine, maybe he believed Bria could make the trip, but more than that, it felt like he was just running away, since he didn't even give her time to think about things)

Also, since the book relied on the manipulation of one's heartstrings, I looked for characters that grow on you despite their flaws. While the characters had foundations, there's nothing that had me thinking, "She did that? Figures". Even in the end, after all the past I've learned about them, it seemed like I didn't know them at all. Although, okay, fine, I'll excuse that part, since they're supposedly finding themselves and changing. Whatever. I'll try to ignore the part that people still have a distinct trait no matter how lost they are and that they cannot change who they really are, entirely.

But, the ending!

Sometimes, what you love the most is what you have to fight the hardest to keep.

Okay...

But why, oh why, do you have to be tested by the other person that way? Isn't there also a saying that goes, "If you love a person, you'll do anything for him, but if heloves you back, he'll never ask you to"? So, okay, for the sake of Bria's growth, Rowan's have to be regressed? After having all that talk about moving forward and forgetting the past - all that really boils down to is you leave everything behind, because you can't face them? Isn't giving Bria space just an excuse when you didn't even give her time?

Wanderlove invokes the the idea of starting everything a new, but while it has the potential to draw empathy, there were times in which the excessive attempt hits a mark way beyond the target.




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Review: Cold Kiss

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Summary:

After her boyfriend is killed in a car accident, high school student Wren Darby uses her hidden powers to bring him back from the dead, never imagining the consequences that will result from her decision.

Review:

Mood: Blues
Type: Immerse yourself
Rating: Contains kissing and mild suggestions

This book's strength lies in the creative way Amy Garvey describes Wren and Daniel's relationship.  When Wren remembers, she remembers with affection, as if a part of her is experiencing everything all over again. This, in contrast with the recollections of  the undead Daniel, is both refreshing and forlorn - a mix that can get addicting to a reader, depending on the level of attachment.

The only thing I was apprehensive about is Gabriel and almost everything else about him. He is interesting and offers a lot of potential (because of his powers and all). If only he was introduced a little later.


Quotes:

Love doesn’t break easily, I found. But people do.


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