3/2/14: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Ignite Me

Cover: The continuous use of the eye as the main feature on all the books is such a perfect medium. It isn't to flashy, but also not too simple. Also, the little details in the cover also get me. They tie in well with the story. In this case, definitely judge a book by it's cover. 

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Romance

Goodreads Blurb: Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew - about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam - was wrong.

Published/ing: February 4th 2014 Harpercollins 

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: 

So the night before this book came out, I was a bit anxious. Usually I'm beyond excited for last books in series when they come out, but this book made me feel anxious. I was scared that it wouldn't end right. 

So that fact actually caused me to wait to read this book a few weeks later. Thank god I read it. 

The beginning was a bit disorienting and boring in the beginning. I had not read anything from the series since the novellas came out back in October and forgot the story and what point they were at. 

The first four or so chapters I believe it is, is just Juliette and Warner. Due to the news that Warner delivers Juliette, Juliette is an emotional mess. I disliked how whiny she was. There was a freaking REBELLION going on right outside the window, and yet here was Juliette lying in bed crying about her dead boyfriend and her feelings about being in love with his fully living brother. 

But alas, she wakes up and becomes the badass that she was meant to be this whole story. My favorite moment in the whole book series is when she realizes that she wasn't in love, but in love with the idea of it.

“It’s not an accusation ,” I say. “One day Adam will realize that what he felt for me was just a crazy kind of desperation. We were two people who really needed someone to hold on to, and we had this past that made us seem so compatible. But it wasn’t enough. Because if it were, I wouldn’t have been able to walk away so easily.” I drop my eyes, my voice. “Warner didn’t seduce me, Kenji. He didn’t steal me away. I just . . . I reached a point where everything changed for me. “Everything I thought I knew about Warner was wrong. Everything I thought I believed about myself was wrong. And I knew I was changing,” I say to him. “I wanted to move forward. I wanted to be angry and I wanted to scream for the first time in my life and I couldn’t. I didn’t want people to be afraid of me, so I tried to shut up and disappear, hoping it would make them more comfortable. But I hate that I let myself be so passive my whole life, and I see now how differently things could’ve been if I’d had faith in myself when it mattered. I don’t want to go back to that,” I tell him. “I won’t. Not ever.”

I almost fell apart while watching Juliette develop as a character in this book. I loved it. I love it. It was amazing. 

Stepping aside from Juliette's character development, I want to talk about Kenji. 

The day I was reading Ignite Me was pretty sucky. I had a hard row with a teacher and was loaded with homework. Not to mention that Ignite Me was running pretty slow. 

But then low and behold, in steps Kenji and my day was fixed. I missed his sarcasm and relatively sexual comments. As I told my parents, who rolled their eyes at me, it was like I had an epiphany. 

I cannot stress how important his character was in the story. 

With the war and the romance and the confinement, his comedic relief shines through like the sun on a rainy day. And in this book, when Juliette is completely lost and broken after Adam's outbreak, Kenji is their to cheer her up and give her great advice. They have such a beautiful brother/sister complex. Their relationship is probably my favorite out of all the relationships developed in the trilogy. 

Overall, this book met my standards at no ends. It really took the revolution and characters and ran. Juliette rose to her full potential. Warner was revealed as a new person. Old characters were introduced, everyone fought brilliantly, and happiness was achieved in the end.  

It was an amazing end to an amazing set of dystopian novels. I hope that Tahereh continues to write brilliant stories and characters like she did with this trilogy. 

“You know,” he whispers, his lips at my ear, “the whole world will be coming for us now.” I lean back. Look into his eyes. “I can’t wait to watch them try.”

Future News:

This was the last installment in the trilogy. Fox Twentieth Century owns the rights to the movie, but no actual news has come up about production. 

1/23/14: Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau

Independent Study

Cover: It plays in well with the book, and isn't overly detailed. 

Author: Joelle Charbonneau 

Genre: Dystopian, Action and Adventure, Post-Apocalyptic

Goodreads Blurb:In the series debut The Testing, sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies . . . a promising leader in the effort to revitalize postwar civilization. In Independent Study, Cia is a freshman at the University in Tosu City with her hometown sweetheart, Tomas—and though the government has tried to erase her memory of the brutal horrors of The Testing, Cia remembers. Her attempts to expose the ugly truth behind the government’s murderous programs put her—and her loved ones—in a world of danger. But the future of the Commonwealth depends on her.

Published/ing: January 7th, 2014 HMH Books for Young Readers

Rating: 5/5

Review: 

Yes. Yes. Yes.

This book continued my adoration for this series. 

So, being a dystopian book, you have a revolution to go along with your broken society, right? Right.

So it's book two and it's time for a revolution! What I like about this book though, is that the revolution and the whole revolting part is more complicated than it seems. We don't just have rebel group against government, but rebel group, president, part of government against part of government and powerful guy. It's really truly interesting all the politics in this book. 

Moving onto characters, Cia is just amazing. She is absolutely the same as I described her in the last book. She is calculating and smart. She is clever and can get herself out of sticky situations. In this book, I love all the inner conflict and turmoil that is affecting her. I love seeing how she pushes through it to focus on the conflict in front of her, but still has to think about all the people she might've killed, he friends might've killed, and the government killed. 

Thomas, her significant other (but not really anymore), has become a lot more quiet and conflicting. I really with I'd get to see a bit more into his POV soon just to see what's going through his head. 

I really liked all the side characters introduced in this book, and their effect on the plot. 

The only real downside I have for these books is I wish they were longer. They are only about three hundred or so pages each but I want more. 

Future News:

The final book in the trilogy, Graduation Day, will be out on June 17th of this year.

I really really liked this book, so I suggest you go find a copy now. Have a good night guys!

~Monty

1/7/14: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

The Testing

Cover: I like the simplicity. And it also goes along with the story. 

Author: Joelle Charbonneau

Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance

Goodreads Blurb: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same? 

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. 

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one. 

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

Published/ing: June 4th 2013 Houghton Mifflin Books for Children 

Rating: 5/5

Review: 

Overall, each aspect of the book was strong. 

I liked how planned out and flowy the plot was. You knew how the book was broken up, but you didn't exactly know what was going to happen in those breaks. You knew she was going to be accepted for the Testing, and then go through the four stages and then hopefully make it to the end. But you didn't know how she would get through those stages. How it would affect the main character mentally, physically, or emotionally. 

The main character, Cia (interesting name), is probably up there with one of my favorite characters. She is strong without knowing it. She is realistic and calculating. But she isn't that special. She doesn't just magically has special skills. The book tells you her experiences so it's not just poof! fire or poof! caught an animal. 

I also found it interesting how she handled killing her fellow contestants. Now, throughout this review you'll probably compare a lot of things to the Hunger Games, because it is a good comparison. The Testing is like The Hunger Games on steroids. 

In The Hunger Games, when Katniss starts killing people, and we don't exactly see how that affects her. We see how the death of other contestants affect her, but not her own killings. 

With Cia, she is emotionally affected. She is scared to kill others, no matter how cruel they are. She is disgusted and afraid when she witnesses a fellow student die in front of her because of the test. While everyone else just casually brushes it off, she is genuinely freaking out. And I think that is awesome. She is not some perfect robot heroine. She is broken and scared. 

Also, back to the gun thing. She doesn't just magically know how to use the gun. She doesn't have great aim. It once again shows that she isn't a perfect heroine. She is being shot at and she doesn't want to shoot at a contestant but since her life relies on it, so she just does. And misses. And shoots again. And misses. Then she clips him in the shoulder and runs. 

I loved her throughout the book. That 'never-give-up' attitude she gives throughout the whole book, through everything that she goes through. She's the perfect heroine to look up to, because she isn't perfect. She doesn't have amazing skills. She learns from experience and is intelligent. 

I also want to mention how the romance wasn't the main idea of the story. There wasn't a major love triangle. The guy isn't perfect. *slop claps for Joelle* 

I liked Thomas, Cia's counterpart, from the beginning; intelligent and in my mind, was pretty hot. But I had a bad hunch about him. 

He was so sweet and loving and had a cute crush on Cia the whole time and I thought they were just such a great couple. Like there's this one part when he confesses his love to her and finally says those three magic words, and her response was "I think I love you, too."

It made me happy because she wasn't sure of herself, and she didn't jump into it without being one hundred percent confident. 

I'm not gonna mention anything else for fear of spoilers.

The only downside I found to this book, was, although there were many exceptional side characters, they didn't have very absolute personalities. I didn't feel as sad as I usually did when they died (or other) because they didn't capture me. 

Other than that, I enjoyed the heck out of the book. And I think you would too. 

Future News:

The next book in the series actually came out today! The next book in the series comes on June 3rd of this year. 

1/7/14: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Cover: Perfectly designed to make you just want to pick up the book.

Author: Holly Black

Genre: Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic (kind of), Romance (kind of), Fiction

Goodreads Blurb: Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

Published/ing: September 3rd 2013 Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Rating: 5/5

Review: 

This books was so well written. 

I've never read anything from Holly Black before, but now I wish I had. 

The fantasy aspect was so well thought out and detailed. Same with the post-apocalyptic. I liked that the romance was not the main idea in the book.

The main character was strong. She made her own decisions and tried cleaning up her own messes. She new the right decisions. She tried saving others before saving her own life. 

Tana might not have been illustrated as a hero, but I think she is the perfect example of one. 

I liked how Holly tied in that historical aspect, taking the older vampire back to Russia and how they came to America. It really tied together how people in the  twenty-first century views vampirism to how it is viewed in more historical times. 

She really got every aspect to a good book down; fast paced plot, strong and well-written characters, and a detailed setting. 

Honestly, if you are a fan of anything I would suggest this book to you; Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings, and The Mortal Instruments, it all relates. 

This is an amazing book. Honestly if you haven't picked it up yet, you are missing out. 

Future News:

This is a stand alone book and there will not be a sequel (at least there isn't one planned)(I hope there is one). 

~Monty

1/1/14: Hello 2014

So what can we expect this coming year? 

Will it be full of surprises and comebacks?

Will there be debuts of new authors?

Will there be new genre explosions?

Who knows!

Most Anticipated Stand-Alones

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Panic by Lauren Oliver
John Green's mysterious new book

Most Anticipated Sequels/Other New Books

Percy Jackson and the Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

Most Anticipated Series-Closers

Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Most Anticipated Book-Movie Adaptations

Divergent based on the book by Veronica Roth

The Maze Runner based on the book by James Dashner 

The Fault in Our Stars based on the book by John Green

Mockingjay Part One based on the book by Suzanne Collins

The Hobbit Part Three based on the books by J. R. R. Tolkien

Most Anticipated Author Comebacks

J. K. Rowling

What are we going to do with women? Just when we thought Harry Potter would be gone from our lives forever back in 2010, she is bringing it back. Get excited for her new co-produced movie, based on the Hogwart's school book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Then, prepare for Harry Potter ON STAGE. That means songs and dance numbers and wonderful amazing things telling the story of Harry's life before wizarding school, also  to be co-produced by J. K. herself! We have a lot to look forward to my friends!

Are you guys excited? I have a feeling this'll be a good year!
~Monty

12/31/13: Goodbye 2013

HELLO GUYS!

It's been a great year hasn't it? Maybe. It was a bit weird and off-kilter. 

Oh well. 

We got some pretty good books this year though! Here is my top books/authors/etc. of 2013 celebrating an end to this year and a welcome to the new year!

Favorite Book Read This Year

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

This book was one of my most anticipated books this year. I had extremely high expectations for this book and it delivered. Rick always delivers. I am going to be heartbroken when the last book comes out this coming year. I'm positive you guys won't hear the end of it. My full review is HERE. My meeting with Rick Riordan is HERE. 

Favorite Book Published This Year

Champion by Marie Lu

He is a Legend.

I only started reading these books this year, and was I seriously impressed. They blew away my idea of a dystopian novel. Champion had such a memorable and magnificent ending. I bow down to Marie Lu. Read my review HERE.

Author(s) of the Year

Cassandra Clare, author of The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, and The Bane Chronicles series

and 

John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and many others

I totally made the mistake of reading both these exceptional authors in the same year. Now I can't choose which one blew me away more. Oh well. They both did. Their books are so treasured to me. They both are great people. I just can't even comprehend how powerfully these authors have influenced me. I've done reviews for both these authors, but there are so many I'm not even gonna bother.

Favorite Debut Author

Rainbow Rowell, author of Fangirl and Eleanor and Park

I was a bit iffy about reading her first book, Eleanor and Park, but ended up enjoying it more then I though I would. Fangirl though, was amazing. She definitely proved herself in YA literature this year and I can't wait to read her next book Landline, coming July 8th. Read my review for Fangirl HERE.

Favorite Book-Movie Adaptation

The Hobbit (The Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug)

I originally read this book in 2012, and got really excited for the movies. Now I'm a big LotR fan and will probably write a review for all three movies when the last one comes out next year. 

Favorite Blogger

Flip that Page

She had such a beautiful blog, and I love how laid back and realistic everything she does is. It's a great place to get some good reviews on books. 

Favorite Vlogger

Katytastic

She also has amazing, detailed book reviews. She has a bubbly personality and is a great person overall.

I hope you all have an amazing year, and good luck with your resolutions and goals!
~Monty

12/26/13: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Leviathan

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Cover: This isn't actually the cover, I just like this version better. The original cover is very boring if you ask me.

Author: John Green and David Levithan

Genre: Romance, Contemprary, coming-of-age

Goodreads Blurb: One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.

Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both of them legions of faithful fans.

Published/ing: April 6th, 2010 Dutton's Children

Rating: 2.5/5

Review:

This book could've been a lot better. 

It was just so boring. 

I loved the characters, even though they were all pretty static the whole time. The plot was really slow and unchanging. Nothing exciting happened. 

When Will Grayson and Will Grayson met, I thought it could've been bigger, a bit changing. Both of their personalities could've been a bit more than just one unchanging trait. They could've contrasted more. 

The ending was pretty cute, and the idea was nice, but this could've been written better, which is sad to say because I love John Green and have always wanted to read David Levithan's books. 

I was really disappointed in this book. But oh well.  

~Monty

12/17/13: Top Ten Tuesday: Writer Newbies

This meme is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. 

December 17: Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2013

On this topic I could write a million authors, but I'll just do my favorite new ones of this year.

• Huntley Fitzpatrick
• Huntley wrote one of favorite books this year, My Life Next Door. I'm ad so excited to read her next few books when they come out!
• Kevis Hendrikson
• He is definitely a new author for me this year. I appreciated getting the chance to read his books this year.
• Marie Lu
• OoOoOo, probably my favorite dystopian author this year. Her books blew me away.
• Lauren Kate
• I'm still reading her series, Fallen, and I don't know what I think of them yet. I think I'm leaning towards three stars, but I don't know, maybe she'll surprise me!
• Madeleine Roux
• I really loved falling into her zombie novels, Allison Hewitt is Trapped and Sadie Walker is Stranded, and really must read her Asylum novel.

• Rainbow Rowell
• I think she'll be on everyone's list this year. Quite the breakthrough writer. 

• John Green
• I DO NOT REGRET A THING. These books were so good and I love what John does with his brother and everything about it is wonderful and happy.
• Tahereh Mafi
• I think these books were so very unique. Shatter Me and Unravel Me just blew me away. 
• Cassandra Clare
• Ha. Hahaha. See John Green.
• Tamera Ireland Stone
• I also enjoyed divulging my self in her books. I liked that romantic and timey wimey feel they had. 

~Monty

12/15/13: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Life Next Door

Cover: It's too cute and applies to the book perfectly.

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads Blurb: "One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

Published/ing: June 14th, 2012 Dial Books for Young Readers

Rating: 5/5

Review:
*giggles* I really liked this book.

I loved it start to finish. I absolutely could not put it down.

It started out very "forbidden love" and "teenage girl with a disappointing life" and then it pulled away from those main themes and made it its own.

I liked the main protagonist, Samantha, who really thinks. Not your typical "oh he's goo looking" or "oh my mom will punish me because of this" but really, actually thinks about her situation.

This whole review is technically me geeking out about how realistic this book is.

I love the foil families. The Reeds who are very pristine and exact and proper, and then the Garretts, who are compassionate and heck tic and chaotic. I liked the idea that Samantha Reed grew up longing to have a family like the Garretts, and then finally have her dream come true when a certain (beautiful) boy comes knocking at her window.

And when we finally get to meet ALL of the Garretts, I liked that each and every kid, from youngest to oldest, had different personalities. It was so entertaining for me to see Samantha in such an unfamiliar environment.

The romance aspect of the book, between Jase Garrett and Samantha Reed was so dam realistic. I loved that they were so quirky and imperfect. Like, that's what I expect from a relationship; not some perfect fairy tale. I just teared up at how great it was.

I couldn't believe this was Huntley's first book. She deserves a standing ovation for how amazing it was. It frustrates me beyond belief how perfect it was. I could not find a single flaw.

I don't think I can emphasize how much I loved this book. Everyone needs to read it.

Future News:
There will be a sequel (more of a spin-off than a sequel) scheduled to come out 2015.

12/15/13: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss

Cover: I don't like the original cover (which is the edition I actually had), but the remade covers (the one above) that are one shade or color, are absolutely beautiful.

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads Blurb: Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming,beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. 

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Published/ing: December 10, 2010 Dutton

Rating: 4/5

Review: 

I enjoyed this book quite a lot.

At the beginning, it started out a bit slow and general. I was angered by the fact that the main protagonist was mad about being sent to France. Who wouldn't want to be sent to France?

But then we meet our wonderful side characters. Each of which has unique and capturing personalities that help the plot move along.

But I'd like to talk about out two main characters: Anna and St.Clair.
Anna is such a quirky, sweet, and innocent girl. I love that she loves reviewing movies and is very independent. I feel like I connected with her on a personal level. She is very realistic.

St. Clair is the dream boy OF ALL dream boys. An American boy with an English accent living in France. I melted the at the first description of him. And so did Anna.

But they both had their boundaries. Anna knew that St.Clair had a girlfriend and Anna's roommate was crushing on St. Clair. She knew he was off limits. And I'm glad she respected that for the most part.

St. Clair was a bit confusing. He never seemed to make up his mind. He knew what he want, but he didn't want to hurt anyone to get what he wanted creating this spider web of problems for all the characters.

I think their romance was a little off kilter at some points, but I liked how it flattened out in the end. 

Overall, the setting was excellent and the writing wasn't the best, but still pretty good. You could definitely tell Stephanie Perkins did her research for each and every element of the story. 

Future News:

The third and final installment in this trilogy will come out May 13th of next year.

12/11/13: W...W...W...Wednesday: Hey...Guys...

Wednesday's meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

• Currently Reading
• I am currently reading Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy. I hope to write a nice long review for this one, along with two other contemporary books I read. Also, this book has a really pretty cover :).

• Finished Reading
• I read a lot of books the past few weeks (over NaNoWriMo and Exam Study Guide making). A couple of those books are Firebrand by Antony John (amazing sequel to Elemental), My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, and Anna and the French Kiss (CUTESY TOOTSIEY) by Stephanie Perkins. All of which, I enjoyed. 

• To Read
• I want to read a bunch of books, in fact I have a huge stack, since Christmas is coming up, but my top two are Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle and Passion, the third book in the Fallen series, by Lauren Kate. 

Sorry I haven't been on lately. Between NaNo and Exams it's been insane. I want to get out a few reviews, but between all the exam crap going on, it might not be too likely. Oh well. I've missed this. :)

Have a good Wednesday,

~Monty

11/15/13: Champion by Marie Lu

Champion

Author: Marie Lu

Genre: Dystopian, Romance, Action and Adventure

Goodreads Blurb: The explosive finale to Marie Lu’s New York Times bestselling LEGEND trilogy—perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT!

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion? 

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

Published/ing: Putnam Juvenile November 5th, 2013

Rating: 5/5

Review:

Marie Lu has impressed me. 

I like to first mention how much the plot thickened.

We have the Colonies attacking the Republic. Anden taking up his position as Elector and June taking her position as Princeps-Elect. We see the challenges they face just because people believe them as too young to rule.
Then we have Day, living with his brother, as happy as he can be despite the fact that he misses June and is getting sicker by the day.
The plot is non-top as the war continues with death threats and rebellions and explosives. There is internal conflict and external conflicts.
That really kept me hooked and wanting to read.

The character development and the overall resolution was also perfectly tied to together. June and Day were such great characters, because they showed insecurity and being unsure about going into certain situations. They felt guilt and regret and pain. Marie really took the time to show that the time to make sure that, although the characters were heroes throughout the story, they were still human. And I think that's what sets her book off from others. 

The world-building made me really happy. Since this book is set so far in the future, there has to be new technology and stuff, right? Marie takes that aspect to a whole new level. 

One of my favorite parts in the book was when June visited Antarctica with Anden. The idea of living life as if it were a game was amazing. The atmosphere control and the whole idea of it blew my mind. I must've just sat there with my mouth open while I was reading it. 

And finally, the ending. And I need to seriously talk about this. Over the course of like, what, three chapters, my emotions were on a roller coaster. When June was on the building trying to stop Commander Jameson from shooting Day, my heart was pounding in my chest. When Day couldn't see his brother in the dust I was completely freaking out. 

The fight between Jameson and June was illustrated beautifully, every move exact and purposeful. And then finally, at the end of that, when June finds Day and he is dying and the POV switches over and Day sees his mother. Oh gods, I was in tears. I thought he was going to die. I thought it was going to be *SPOILER FOR ALLEGIANT BY VERONICA ROTH* just like Tris all over again. 

Thank gods though that it wasn't. 

Then the whole waiting period. Five months. FIVE MONTHS. Five months, she waited. I was so scared that he wouldn't and that it'd all be over, but no. He's alive. He's all good. 

BUT HE DIDN'T REMEMBER HER. I was in shock. I felt June's pain in that moment. And she took the situation so well. She was wise. She didn't want to hurt him all over again, so he let him have his life. She let him go. 

That was probably the one of the bravest moments in all of the books I've ever read. 

“'Day,' I say, carefully choosing what my final words to him should be. 'It has been such a privilege and honor to fight by your side. You’ve saved many more of us than you’ll ever know.' For a small moment, I fix my eyes on his, telling him silently everything that I’ll never say to him aloud. 'Thank you,' I whisper. 'For everything.'

Day looks puzzled by the emotion in my voice, but he bows his head in return. 'The honor’s mine,' he replies. My heart breaks in sorrow at the lack of warmth in his voice, the warmth I know I would have heard had he remembered everything. I feel the absence of the aching love that I’ve come to yearn for, that I wanted so much to earn. It is gone now. 

If he knew who I was, I would say something else to him now, something I should’ve said to him more often when I had the chance. Now I am sure of my feelings, and it’s too late. So I fold the three words back into my heart, for his sake, and rise from his bed. I soak in every last, wonderful detail of his face and store it in my memory, hoping I can take him with me wherever I go. We exchange quiet salutes. Then I turn away for the last time."

Then the Epilogue was pretty sweet how they did the birthdays. I liked that we saw Anden again and Tess. Because, let's be real guys, it was inevitable that at some point June and Anden would get together. 

And then we go to the present and at the train station. That was such a scary moment for me, because the book had only a couple pages left. What was going to happen?

Oh and it was so happy. So happy, that I was sobbing. That whole part was just so well written. 

I am so glad I read these books and, personally, I don't want them to be turned into movies. They'd do well just left alone. 

Marie Lu did a phenomenal job. Absolutely phenomenal. 

"Then Day reaches out and touches my hand with his. He encloses it in a handshake. And just like that, I am linked with him again, I feel the pulse of our bond and history and love through our hands, like a wave of magic, the return of a long-lost friend. Of something meant to be. The feeling brings tears to my eyes. Perhaps we can take a step forward together. 

'Hi,' he says. 'I’m Daniel.' 

'Hi,' I reply. 'I’m June.'"

Future News:

This is the last installment in the Legend trilogy. There is movie that is in the beginning stages of creation.