Current Read: Cruel Beauty

Title: Cruel Beauty
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: January 28, 2014

Cruel Beauty by: Rosamund Hodge

I’ve just started reading, Cruel Beauty by, Rosamund Hodge and its so far so good. I haven’t read a lot or heard a lot about this book, so I went into, Cruel Beauty just hoping it's something I'll like. I keep seeing the mention about a retelling of, Beauty and the Beast. Which sound pretty interesting, because I’m a huge fan of Beauty and the Beast. I can’t say much about what I think about this book right now because I’m only on chapter six. I’m not sure if its a stand alone book or a trilogy or companion, but it’s pulling me in with each page. I've read a couple retelling of fairy tales and some did a pretty good job and some just didn't, so I'm not going to judge this one until I'm further in.
Very smooth cover though :)

For those that are wondering if I ever finished reading, Red Queen. Yes, I did finished it. It took me longer then most books but I did finished it. There is a twist near the end, but it wasn’t a twist that I wasn’t expecting. I’ll get more into it on a different post.

Avoir for now!

-maymay

Finished Series

"So many books, so little time."

There are many many series in the young adult books, even prequel to a sequel. Companion books, series that are up to six books and more. Prequel that has more then one books and same with sequel.

I’ve read a lot but its hard to actually finish a whole series because; 1) I don’t really want the series to be finish, therefore I put it on hold as long as I can, 2) there are too many books I want to read and want to get into their world too and 3) sometimes its just because they change the covers and it delays me from buying it because it doesn’t match the cover I have. I know the last reason is pretty lame, but hey, I like to have matching covers.
So here are my very first five series that I finished when I started reading again since years of reading slump.

Series 1
THE HUNGER GAMES

I like to think that this series was the series that started it all and made me realized that not every young adult books are about an over protected boyfriend and a female protagonist falling for a werewolf and a vampire. For some reason when I thought of young adult books at that time, I only saw vampire and werewolf and love triangle. I know I’m was bad for stereotyping YA at that time, but i learned quickly and Peeta won my heart and it was also my first dystopian book, so I was mind blown away with everything.

Series 2
THE CHEMICAL GARDEN TRILOGY 

This series was something different. There wasn’t a love triangle or much romance going on throughout all three books, but it was one of those books that did just fine without a lot of romance. It still kept me reading and turning the pages with the strong female protagonist and the colorful and dying world. Very unique and interesting world that Lauren Destefano created.


 
Series 3
THE INFERNAL DEVICES

I fell in love with Jem Carstairs in this series and he instantly became my book boyfriend. I’ve always love anything historical, and this series took place in the late 1800’s plus it has a steampunk feel to it. Demands and angels, vampires and wizards, reminds me of stories I would tell when I was younger. Such a great book with a beautiful ending!!!

Series 4
THE LEGEND SERIES

I’m Asian, therefore I love reading any books with diverse characters in it. That is why I instantly fell in love with Jem from The Infernal Devices series, but this book made me a fan from the first book, Legend. So many emotions and feelings!!! Day, a criminal on the run with his blond hair and blue eyes (for an Asian, that’s pretty awesome) and June who is after him for murdering her brother. Marie Lu did a pretty job good with this world and a pretty hot Day!

Series 5
DIVERGENT SERIES

Ahhh… Fourtris. I picked this book up after many hype on the book tuber community and didn’t have any idea what this book is really about. I'm going to be honest, I didn't like the first book as much as the first movie, but I am still a fan of the book. With Divergent, I can say that I read the book first before the movie was ever made. The ending killed me though, but I liked how Veronica Roth didn’t stick with the typical ending that all of us were just waiting for. I loved the ending! Good job, Veronica!
I took the test and I'm Amity, by the way.

These are just my first five series, very typical series. All very well known and popular in the book community. I'm looking forward to finishing more stand alone and more series and so on. One can never have enough books.

Avoir for now!

-maymay

Book Review: Defy

Lately I’ve been really into fantasy books. I’m not sure if its the winter season or just me at the moment, but I’ve found myself to be reading a lot more fantasy than what I usually read, which is dystopian. Here is a really quick review with not a lot of details on Defy.

<Defy : By Sara B. Larson>

I believe Defy is Sara B. Larson debut book, which came out January, 7 2014. The second book just came out on December 30 of last year, but I’m going to wait until it comes out in paperback to get it because my Defy is in paperback and I hate having one of my book of a series in paper back and the other one in hardcover. Not only that, I liked the book but I didn’t love it so I’m not in a hurry to read it.

First of all, let me just say… what is with the Breeding house? Most disturbing part in the book for me.

<breeding house>
"The echoes of screams, the desperate sobbing behind closed doors. The heat and fear that coated the air like smoke. The empty eyes of the girls. The swollen mounds of their bellies.”

I seriously did thought about just not reading the book after the Breeding House scene, but Marcel kept me reading. (sniff for Marcel) At times, I wonder is the Breeding House really necessarily for the story, when the only time we see or hear about the breeding house is near the beginning. But again, the world in Defy is very messed up and corrupted so I guess they would need something disgusting to show just to much ruined it is in. Quite dark!

Other then that I did enjoy the book, it did kept me turning the pages and wanting to know what happens next. Just be aware that there is a love triangle and I’m not much of a fan of the triangle. That was one thing that did annoyed me about the book and since there’s a triangle, there has to have a ‘Team’, therefore I’m going to go with ‘Team Rylan’ because he truly cared about her and after all that she went through, I don't think i can ever trust Prince Damien. I might have trust issue then, huh…
I did find it weird and awkward how Damien and The main girl kept flirting with each other when all three of them are sleeping next to each other in the same room. I was very uncomfortable for Rylan for some reason.

Many characters died in here and I hate having characters get killed off, but that’s what Author’s like to do and a good book always have to kill characters off.

Defy did kind of remind me of, Throne of Glass. Strong female lead who can fight most men in the book and has the Prince and Captain of the Guard chasing after her. Also, both are fantasy and the crazy thing is I’m also Team Captain of the Guard in the Throne of Glass. I love my captains.

Over all, I give this book a 3 because like I said I did enjoy this book but it isn’t one of my favorite books.

Avoir!

-maymay

Author Panel

In November I finally got to meet an author that I adore because she beat me to it. I’ve always wanted to have my own book out and be one of the first Hmong Author to have their book out not just in the Hmong community but to be in mainstream. Sadly, I’m only a reader and not a writer. Maybe one day I will be good enough at writing and have my own book and be book touring with Lori M. Lee. I have lots of ideas!
The three Authors that came that evening to this cute tiny bookstore that is located under an urban looking cafe were Dawn Klehr, Lori M. Lee and Erica O'rourke, author of, The Cutting Room Floor, Gates of Thread and Stone and Dissonance. Yes, I was nervous because from the moment I found out about her and her book, she instantly became my idol! Yes, my hands were shaking just sitting there waiting for them to arrive. I’ve bought her books when it came out and read it and loved it.
I’ve tweeted,

“Reev makes me blush and Avan makes me smile.”

Because they do!

It was a great experience to be sitting there listening to all three authors talk and answer questions. After the Q&A I went up to Lori, yes I was very nervous and still shaking, and I know I was going to sound like a creepy fangirl. My niece went with me and after I had a short little conversation, took a picture and had her sign my book we left. Outside of the cafe my niece stopped and asked me if I said to Lori that I was obsessed with her. Of course I didn’t say that, I probably said I’m a huge fan… I’m sure I said “I’m obsessed with you” to her and made Lori feel uncomfortable, but I was nervous. I couldn’t remember what I talked to her about because I was being such a fangirl at the moment. I can’t blame myself. So, Lori if you’re reading this, “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I was just really happy and excited that one of us made it out there!” If that make sense.

She’s coming back this spring for the second book to Gates of Thread and Stone, which is, The Infinite and I will be seeing her again. This time I’ll make sure I won’t say, “I’m obsessed with you.” I’m just a really huge fan of yours!

Please don’t hide from me!

Avoir!

-maymay

P.S.
Do check out Lori M. Lee's first book, Gates of Thread and Stone Her second book, The Infinite will be coming out this March. 

Book Review : The Young Elite

Hello Bookwormers!

Today’s review is a young adult fantasy book, THE YOUNG ELITE but Marie Lu.

I went into this book already a fan of Marie Lu. I’ve read her Legend series and LOVE LOVE Day and June and was super excited when I found out about this one. Being Asian I’m always excited about diverse author and diverse protagonist. (Do recommend any books with a diverse characters to me, please.)

<The Young Elite>

Adeline who is our female protagonist possess a dangerous power after surviving the blood disease, which has left her with silver hair and her left eye gone. Those who survive are label, Malfetto, but not all Malfetto possess powers. Many fear them and deem them demonic and a curse. She is rescued by a Young Elite name Enzo who is in the Dagger Society from execution when she accidentally killed her father by unleashing her powers at him. There the Dagger Society will train her how to use her power and help them with their plan for all young elite.

This book is nothing like Marie Lu’s Legend series. Its a lot darker and… sexy… can I say that?Not romance novel sexy but sexy in a, ‘I wasn’t expecting that’ kind of way… a good way.

Marie Lu did say that she wanted to write from the villain POV, and I have to say I can totally see the villain in Adeline. There are times when she is just so inhumane and has no care at all, especially (SPOILER) when she killed Dante, who I didn’t think she needed to kill in the first place. I mean I know its from her hatred for her father but she sometimes scares me. She’s just helping her sister, I know, but did Dante have to die like that when he was just following her? hmm…

I still not sure who is the male protagonist in this book. Is it Enzo or Teren? Enzo? Teren? Many might say it’s Enzo, but somehow I have this thing for Teren, who is the Inquisitor Axelis, the one who was about the execute Adeline and is holding her sister, Violetta in his procession. He soon find Adeline and wants her to play spy for him or he will hurt her sister. Now Adeline is not sure what to do. Spy for Teren so her sister wont get hurt or betray the young elite who saved her from execution.

FIrst of all, did Enzo ever loved Adeline? Does anyone know? I am left with an empty feeling about Enzo and Adeline. Actually I’m left with not much of an attachment for Enzo. I thought he was written quite mysterious and kind of flat, but I have a feeling that we might see him again..? right…? I mean, Marie Lu won’t do that to us, right?

It’s another one of those books where they go through training because the protagonist is unsure of her powers or what is actually going on around in their world and pretty clueless that she might have the most powerful ability of them all. I like the fact that she’s flawed with a missing eye and isn’t perfect or have guys lusting after her. Marie Lu is pretty good at not having a love triangle, which I’m not a huge fan of unless the author has a nice way of working with it.

My favorite Character: Rafeale

When I read about him, he somewhat reminded me of, Hotohori from, Fushigi Yuugi. Love his character! He’s kind and caring and very colorful, but this character though seem to do a very sharp turn at the end and kind of scared me a little too. I mean I think I could understand though.

But the ending though…
Marie Lu, you killed me with the ending!!! I cannot wait for the second book. My heart hurts!!!
Over all, I give this book a 4.5 stars out of 5 because I’m still a hopeless romantic and I felt like Enzo only kissed and cared for Adeline because she reminded him of his pass lover.

Avoir!

-maymay

Current Read - Red Queen

I’ve been in a reading slump since the end of last month and much of this month. This week I finally picked up the highly anticipated book, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and started reading it right away. I’ve scanned the synopsis and thought that it sounds promising and yes this was one of my most anticipated book of 2015. Red Queen came out on the 10th of February and I’ve been seeing Red Queen being compared with Red Rising, by Pierce Brown. I haven’t read Red Rising but they do sound similar in a way just from the synopsis, but I can’t say much about it because like I said, I haven’t read Red Rising.

Read the synopsis for Red Queen and Red Rising from Goodreads and see what you think.

I’m about 80% in (that’s what goodread says) and I know a lot of readers are really loving this book, but I just can’t seem to bring myself to love it. Not much is happening and to be honest I’m just not in the mood to read about the protagonist having to go through some sort of training to become better or someone they’re not. I thought it was kind of slow and it is not something I haven’t read before.

*Please don’t attack me*

I felt like I was forcing myself into reading this book. Actually I was forcing myself because I thought that maybe if I continue on it might get better, but it just didn’t seem like it was. I wanted to just stop half way through but there was so much hype about the book and I thought with so much hype there has to have something about it. *sigh* I’m still debating it I want to continue with it, most likely I will because I’m a little over 80% through.

While reading through this book I felt like I was reading a mash up of multiple books and I was just waiting for certain things to happen because though I don’t know how its going to happening I knew what was going to happen.

The Hunger Games, Katniss
Katniss was the symbol of hope, “the girl on fire,” Katniss equal revolution.
The King and Queen wanted to used Mare as a symbol to settle the "revolution," nicknamed “little lighting girl” and I felt like Victoria wanted Mare’s nickname to stick but it just wasn’t working for me. Or was it just me...

The Selection
The whole prince (Cal) thing having to chose his bride from a whole bunch of girls who are trying to impress him and the cameras capturing Mare’s every move (though its not for a reality show and just for security reasons). Going through protocol on how to be a proper princess and all this etiquette.

The Throne of Glass & The Young Elite
Just the training itself and the others disliking Mare for being the newcomer. Learning about her new ability and how to control it.

I don’t want to compare the book to others but I seriously felt like I just reading a mash up. I’m not going to rate this book or give my whole thought because I haven’t finished it yet. Hopefully I finish it so I can come back with a better review.

Avoir!

 

-maymay

Book Club

Hello and welcome Bokworms!

At the end of last year some friends and I decided to form a little book club that consist of only three people. We decided to form this book club because; 1) we all love to read and 2) another reason for us just to see and catch up with each other with our busy life.
Hmm… I think that was it, just two awesome reasons for this book club. So far we’ve done a pretty darn good job. There's been some postpone and rescheduling, but hey it works.

Our third meeting will be coming up this weekend and our book this time is by Morgan Rhodes. Yes, its the Falling Kingdom and oh-so-many-feels for this book! So many! So many!

Our first book for the first book club was, Defy by Sara B. Larson and our last one was by Marie Lu, The Young Elite. I gave Defy a three stars out of five and The Young Elite four out of five stars. I’m not sure if I was being a little bias for Marie Lu’s book because I LOVE her and I LOVE her Legend series, but I did enjoy The Young Elite. Maybe when I have the time I’ll do some quick review on these two lovely and quite dark books.
Look forward to our next Book Club with Morgan Rhode's, Falling Kingdom and since it's going to be fresh I might be able to give you guys more details on what all of our thoughts are.

Avoir for now!

-maymay