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

Welcome!

Greetings Bookworms

(I meant to start on this blog for a while now. I've been procrastinating and finally... my first entry!)

Welcome to my blog where you will be reading about books and pretty things (well, what I think is pretty, anyway) and where I will be doing endless gushing over book boyfriends. Once in a while I might bring in some reality into my blog, but fictional life is a great escape from reality most of the time.

I do a lot of day dreaming which might delay me from working on my blog most of the time. I’m still thinking about what I want to do when I grow up though I’m a grown up already, but no one needs to know that. I’m thinking of becoming a Mermaid of a Fairy, I’m not sure yet. My boyfriend, Jem Carstairs is very supportive on either one I chose.

Well, I hope you enjoy your stay. Please come back for more posts about books and pretty things.

Avoir!

-Maymay

P.S.
I'm not French, I just like to sound French... I think it makes me look more interesting than I already am.