marie lu – The Talking Bookworm

Liz’s Picks

I have read so many books by so many author’s this year that I hadn’t heard of before 2015. Each author is perfect in their own way and their own writing. I am so looking forward to these author’s releases in 2016!

Laini Taylor

Laini Taylor Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)

Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, #4)

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Deity (Covenant, #3)

Marie Lu

Marie Lu The Young Elites (The Young Elites, #1)

Amy A. Bartol

Amy A. Bartol Inescapable (The Premonition, #1)

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Reviews, YA Dystopian

Book Review: The Rose Society By Marie Lu

November 4, 2015November 20, 2016 Liz Brooks

Written by Liz Brooks

good reads summary:

Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers who nearly killed her.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

review:

I’d like to preface this review with some information.

The Rose Society is the second book in the The Young Elites series (currently listed as a trilogy). I went into The Young Elites with my eyes open and my heart ready. What I wasn’t prepared for was how I would feel when I finished the novel. Despondent is the best description I can give you. But maybe that is how Marie Lu wanted me to feel. IDK. So venturing into The Rose Society took courage.

Below is my review. If you haven’t read The Young Elites do not pass go, do not collect $200. Go read The Young Elites first.

The Rose Society has great action scenes. The plot progresses quickly. There is character development… even if it is backwards (it felt backwards). You also read multiple POVs, but are mainly told the story through Adelina Amouteru.

We meet the tall-tale Magiano, whom I love as a character. He is creative, determined, and resourceful. I don’t feel like he is using Adelina as a means to end like The Daggers did. I believe he is one of two characters who don’t want or expect anything from her other than friendship (or maybe more?). Violetta is the other character. She is a character I have come to understand and appreciate. She is pure of heart and only wants what is best for Adelina.

Thanks to Marie Lu, I have come to hate The Daggers and what they represent.

My feelings about Adelina Amouteru are complicated. She is penumbra. She is surreptitious. She is abominable. She. Is. Villainous.

Overall I feel.. flabbergasted. Hoodwinked. Thorny. My heart was ripped from my chest. I felt limp when I finished the book. I wandered around my house, lost. I felt like Adelina felt at the end of book- waiting for something to hit me… but it never does.

I will pick up the 3rd Young Elites book when it’s published.

rating: 3.5 out of 5

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Reviews, YA Dystopian

Book Review: Legend by Marie Lu

November 3, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

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.

My Initial Thoughts:

I really can’t write anything here this time… Why? because it’s been so long, I have no clue what I had initially thought.

Review:

(WARNING: TONS OF SPOILERS BELOW!)

One year. That’s how long it took me to read this book. Why? Not because it was bad, but because of the FEELS.

Metias was my favorite character until Ms. Lu killed him off. I read a few more pages after that and stopped. I was furious. It took several months of convincing on behalf of Kayla, and me [sort of] getting over Metias’ death to the point that I was able to continue to read Legend.

Oh my gosh, the action… it was so good! I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. And when June decided to help Day escape, OMG, I was biting my nails because of how anxious and stressed I was. I almost couldn’t take it. (This is where I questioned my sanity and told myself I was crazy for putting this book down in the first place all those months ago.)

What really surprised me was Metias leaving a blog behind for June to find. Metias seemed like such a goody-good that in no way did I think of his death as fishy at first or that he would do such a thing. And. Oh My Word, I couldn’t believe that Thomas killed Metias… he killed his own best friend! Now that was a twist I did not even see coming. Apparently, I didn’t see a lot of things coming.

I had all this stuff I wanted to talk about, making this review more analytic and well thought-out, but this review has now boiled down to me just fangirling and I shall be okay with that. 🙂

Legend is a great first book, and darnet, I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Tuesday Meme

Top Ten Most Intimidating Books

July 1, 2013 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Thank you The Broke and The Bookish for this wonderful Tuesday meme.

This week’s topic is Top Ten Most Intimidating Books! Anjie and I will be splitting the list again for the sake of consistency. And here we go!

Veronica’s List:

1. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

I received this book as a gift back in March (I think), and I still haven’t read it. Most of my bookish friends have loved it and I fear I might not like it. The size of the book is also intimidating me.

2. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I bought this book because the movie is coming out soon. Almost everyone I know hates this book except one person (That person would be Anjie. Haha). I took a leap of faith buying this book and now I’m scared it will disappoint me. Verdict: It is sitting on my book shelf… lonely.

3. The One by Kiera Cass

‘The One’ hasn’t been released yet I am very intimidated by it. Being the last book in the trilogy, I want so many things to be resolved and I want so many things to happen, it is ridiculous. Not everything will get resolved and what does get resolved might not even be how I want it to. I am wearily anticipating this book, hoping it will not shred my feels into oblivion.

4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I’ve read very few classics in my life. This classic has been sitting on my shelf, waiting for me to read it. I loved Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and I’m hoping I’ll love her sister’s written work as well. The size of the book and the difficult language in the novel has had me turning a blind eye when I see it sitting on my book shelf.

5. Legend by Marie Lu

I’m halfway through this book and I can’t take it. I don’t know if I can keep going. Nope. Nu uh. Not happening any time soon.

Anjie’s List:

6. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Many who have read ‘Unravel Me’ have told me that they’ve changed their loyalties towards a certain character and I really don’t want that to happen.

7. The Kill Order James by Dashner

I liked the Maze Runner trilogy and I’m uncertain about prequels and if it will ruin my feelings for the Maze Runner.

8. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

This sounds like a suspenseful thriller filled with ghosts and everything I’m afraid of reading. Enough said.

9. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

I read the first book in the series and I wasn’t impressed with it. I feel like if I read this, my opinion won’t change and I’m going have to drop the series.

10. The Host by Stephenie Mayer

I honestly put off reading this book because of Twilight. I loved Twilight in the beginning and a book separate from the themes within twilight sort of scared me. (Veronica: Anjie’s opinion of this book changed after she read it. Max Irons <3)

Tag: marie lu

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