Siege and Storm Review

Title: Siege and Storm
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: June 4th 2013
Source: ARC for Review
Rating: 4.5

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Review:

Siege and Storm takes place not long after the events of Shadow and Bone with Alina and Mal on the run from the Darkling. Right from the very first page I got swept away again into the story the Leigh Bardugo has created in the Grisha trilogy. In 2012 Shadow and Bone was in my top ten books, and I'm sure that Siege and Storm will be in my list for 2013 it was just that good.

I already had the dilemma a picking a guy I liked better, Mal or The Darkling. Siege and Storm brings in a third  guy I couldn't help falling for, Strumhond. Thanks god I'm not Alina because I couldn't possibly pick just one. I think this may be the only series where I can't narrow down who I like, their just all great for different reasons.

As for the story; it was an epic, thrilling, heart pounding, and well written sequel that is perfect in every way. The intricate well thought of world of the Grisha is absolutely amazing and unlike anything I have ever scene. The Russian twist to the series also adds to my interest towards the book.

The only minor issue that I had with the book was with the main character, Alina. She seems to have taken to her power too well, which is good but she acts like she's superior then everyone and is the only hope for Ravka against The Darkling. Even though she is all these things I feel she shouldn't act all high and mighty I would prefer to read from her perspective much more.

All together Siege and Storm was a fantastic sequel to Shadow and Bone that was well written and had a great story with high stakes. If you enjoyed Shadow and Bone I have no doubt that you will end up falling for this one as well. Get ready for an unbearable wait for the final book, Siege and Storm is left on a bit of a cliffhanger that well definitely make you eager for more.

 

The Raven Boys Review

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: September 18th 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: ARC for review
Rating: 4.5

Summary:

 

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

 

Review:

 

Maggie Stiefvater is one of my all time favourite authors, I have and will continue to read whatever she puts out. I don't think anything she does in the future will ever be better than The Wolves of Mercy Falls though, I fell for that series... HARD <3 a="a" all="all" almost="almost" amazing="amazing" amongst="amongst" an="an" authors="authors" beautiful.="beautiful." being="being" best="best" boys.="boys." br="br" by="by" descriptice="descriptice" descritpion="descritpion" far.="far." for="for" found="found" he="he" her="her" i="i" in="in" is="is" it="it" little="little" maggie="maggie" makes="makes" me="me" much="much" nbsp="nbsp" of="of" one="one" other="other" out="out" poetic="poetic" point="point" raven="raven" s="s" seen="seen" she="she" stand="stand" that="that" the="the" thing="thing" though="though" to="to" too="too" used="used" ve="ve" was="was" world="world" writer="writer" writing.="writing.">
Despite The Raven Boys rather slow beginning, things picked up and I couldn't help falling in love with this book.  I loved all the characters Blue, Gansey, Noah, Adam, and Ronan. I think I would have loved them more if the book was written in first person so that I could get an inside look into their minds.

The concept that the books follows is an iteresting and unique one, that is better left being discovered for yourself instead of me trying to describe it. Trust me though, it is good and while reading it will touch base with all of your major emotions.

Damn you Maggie for creating such an enthralling ending that makes me want to read more NOW. I really don't know how I will wait... I would definitely recommend this book to Maggie Steifvater fans, and fans of YA in general. I can't see why you would not love this book as much or even more than I did.



Origin Review

Title: Origin
Author: Jessica Khoury
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: September 4th 2012
Source: ARC for Review
Rating: 4.5


Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home—and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia’s origin—a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Review:

 

The major aspect of Origin that stood out for me was the uniquness of the jungle setting. I loved the descriptoion that Jessica Khoury put into it, creating a lush and colourful visual. The concept of immortality is a very redundant theme, but the use of the immortality in Origin is a more scientifc take that makes it unique and brings the concept back to life.

 

Eio is an unusual male lead/ love interest I think in YA novels. He's not the super hot, dark and mysterious guys that is used in the majority of books, he's more "real". Nontheless I well in love with is lovable and caring personality, and if I were in Pia's position I would totally go for him as well.

 

I found the plot to be very unpredicatable, which is rare since I usual am able to guess the outcome. And I found myself very eager to see what the deal was behind Pia's immortality and the risks the scientists faced when creating her.

 

The writing was fluent, descriptive, and came across as well intelligent on the scientific aspects of the book, it was well researched.

 

I didn't really enjoy how at the beginning of the book Pia thought that she was "perfect" and all the scientists considered her to be as well. But as she started to break away from the only home she has ever known and the only people she has ever met, I enjoyed her personality more and the new person she was becoming. I found it annoying how she called the scientists "aunt" and "uncle"...

 

I'm not sure if there will be a sequel or if this is just a stand a lone, but I really want one. Overall a very great debut novel.