Review: Reached by Ally Condie

Author: Ally Condie

Publisher: Penguin

Release Date: 30- November-2012

Format: Paperback

Synopsis: After leaving Society to desperately seek The Rising, and each other, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. Cassia is assigned undercover in Central city, Ky outside the borders, an airship pilot with Indie. Xander is a medic, with a secret. All too soon, everything shifts again. (Copied from Goodreads.com)

Rating: 4.5 stars. 

Review: I had thoroughly enjoyed Matched and Crossed so I was naturally excited for the last instalment of the book.  What I love most about this trilogy is Ally Condie’s writing, she spends a lot of time building up her characters and their development throughout the novel. By the end of the 3 books you feel as if you really know them inside and out. Although there are several big plot arcs in the book a lot of it is character focused and although this is evident in her other books, it can be slow going at times- especially if you’re looking for an “explosive” ending. Each chapter is in the point of view of Cassia, Ky and Xander, the narrations give the reader strong and powerful reactions to the situations they go through. 

As the life they once knew continues to change dramatically, Cassia, Ky and Xander have to each make decisions that will decide their future. The conclusion to the Matched trilogy does the whole series justice, it’s poetic and gives such a strong message. If you loved the first two books you should have no worries about the last one. Ally Condie’s writing allows you to get sucked into that world so that even if you’re not the biggest fan- I don’t think you’d have a problem finishing the last book.

It may not be as enthralling as some of the other YA books about but it’s poignant, powerful and the writing is beautiful. Well worth a read.

Kathleen x          

Review: Lengend by Marie Lu

Title: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: Penguin  

Release Date: 2nd February 2012

Format: Paperback (295 pages)

Series: The Legend Trilogy 

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Cover: For once I’m actually glad they changed the covers. The original UK cover had a girl on a rooftop and everything was all golden. Then the covers were changed so that they were pretty much exactly what the US covers looked like, which is good because I actually prefer them as they are a lot more simple and make me think of the DIVERGENT covers in the context of the symbols. Also that and the fact that I hate models on covers. 

Review: Light by Michael Grant

Title: Light

Author: Michael Grant

Publisher: Egmont UK 

Release Date: 28th March 2013

Format: Hardback

Series: The Gone Series #6

Synopsis from Goodreads:

It’s been more than a year since every person over the age of fifteen disappeared from the town of Perdido Beach, California. In that time, countless battles have been fought: Battles against hunger and lies and plagues and worse, battles of good against evil, and kid against kid. Allegiances have been won, lost, betrayed, and won again; ideologies have been shattered and created anew, and the kids of the FAYZ have begun to believe that their new society is the only life they’ll ever know. But now that the Darkness has found a way to be reborn, the tenuous existence they‘ve established is likely to be shattered for good. Will the kids of Perdido Beach even survive?

WARNING! - I will go on quite a bit about how much I love this series and it may be slightly spolierific. Don't say I didn't warn you!  

Book Haul #1 - March 2013

So in the month of March I managed to obtain a collection of 24 books! Below is a list of all the books I got and how I got them.

Haulin' in the books

So Kathleen and I have decided to a regular feature on the blog, A Book Haul, in which on the first Monday of every month (with the exception of this week) we will show you all the books we got in the month before hand. My March book haul will come later in the week.

P.S. It's massive, 20+ books!