Prodigy- Marie Lu

Book 24 of My Summer Reading Challenge

My rating: 4/5 stars

This book was so good, I am falling in love with the writing of Marie Lu and I cannot wait to pick up the last book in the trilogy. The story of this book is so original and it grabs a hold of you and refuses to let you go.

I have to admit that I have conflicted feelings about June, I just feel like she doesn't deserve Day. She was pretty much the reason why he was arrested and if it wasn't because of her then they wouldn't be in this situation (I totally agree on Tess with this one) but Day just seems to always forgive her. But at the same tie as thinking all of this, I also feel that they would be a good match and there is obviously something undeniable between them. That paperclip ring is so adorable and I really want one. I think that June should be with the elector though, even thought I know that she is going to end up with Day. It's too obvious not to happen.

I feel so sorry for Day after all that he went through to get his brother back and to try and help the Republic, the ending which he has in this book is so heart breaking. I cant believe that Marie Lu decided to do that to him. I really hope that it works out for him in the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and so far this trilogy is definitely someone who is a fan of the YA genre should be reading so I recommend this highly.

Raging Star- Moira Young

Book 23 of my Summer Reading Challenge

My rating: 3.5/5 stars

I loved the beginning of this trilogy in 'Blood Red Road', I even gave it 5 stars because I thought it was so original. Now I just feel let down by this book which is the last book in the trilogy and the books have slowly decreased in how much I enjoyed them. It took me longer than necessary to read this book and it got to the point where I was fed up and I began to read a different book just to have a change.
Although, a lot did happen in the book and it was really fast paced and managed to keep me engaged through most of it.

There were points in this book where there was things I was excited about which happened, but also I really didn't like. I was glad that Lugh died. I didn't like him too much in the second book and I just think that he was past what he could bring to the story. I guessed that it was Lugh who followed Saba and was trying to turn Jack in to DeMalo. It was the one person who Saba didn't expect but it was pretty obvious from the beginning. (The death of Lugh earned this book the extra .5 of a star)

Emmi's death was a real shock to me. I didn't think that the author would go that far and kill her off, although I can see that it had to be done if Saba was to follow Jack to the ocean. She wouldn't of left Emmi behind.

I was shocked with the discovery of Tommo's dad. I honestly did not see that coming even though it was set up really well. I feel so sorry for Tommo. First he looses Ike and now he looses his real dad. This series is just out to torture him, I am sure.

Towards the end of this book, I was really thinking that she would marry DeMalo. I don't know why but I just felt like it would be a good ending and there would be no hope that they would get out of the situation they were in.

At least she got with Jack in the end.

The Elite- Kiera Cass

Book 22 of My Summer Reading Challenge

My rating: 1/5 stars

**Book provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I very rarely give books 1/5 stars, but in this case, I just had to.

In my review of 'The Selection', I mentioned how disappointed I was that there was no twists and everything was just boring. I hoped that something would at least happen in this book. And there was one thing, yes, ONE thing that happened which was even slightly interesting and that was the incident with Marlee.

As for the rest of the book, I just cant help but think that the sme thing happens over and over again and it goes like this:

1) America loves Maxon
2) America is about to choose Maxon over Aspen
3) Something happens (Normally something Maxon does or doesn't do)
4) America gets upset
5) America is now ready to choose Aspen over Maxon
6) Maxon apologises or explains
7) America forgives Maxon
8) Repeat

I got so tired of this I just wanted to get the whole thing over with and ended up reading the book really quickly.

If I'm honest, I'm not sure if I want to finish this series. Maybe just to see what happens but for nothing more.

Did I mention that I hate America. She is so annoying. I want to punch her through my kindle.

The Selection- Kiera Cass

Book 21 of My Summer Reading Challenge

My rating: 3/5 stars

**Book provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I have really mixed views on this book, I did like it and I thought that the concept and the story was something a bit different and original. It did remind me a bit of the Queenstrial in 'Red Queen' (Although this book was released first) and also it reminded me of 'The Hunger Games' of how a girl from each province is selected to take part until there is a winner when one is left. Even though there is no one dying in this book. Also, I love Silvia, she reminds me so much of Effie (Who I adore).

Even though I really did enjoy some parts of this book, I just thought that nothing really happened which was interesting enough to give the book more than 3 stars. I was hoping that there would be some twists and that Marlee would be on the same level of evil as Celeste and that she had a plot to take the crown. I was so disappointed that there wasn't. I just feel like this book could of gone down so many different directions which would of made it a great story but it just didn't and I found it a bit boring if I am totally honest.

 

Everything Everything- Nicola Yoon (ARC review)

Book 20 of My Summer Reading Challenge

My rating: 5/5 stars

**Book provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I can honestly say that I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did when I decided to start reading it. I had seen mixed reviews on social media where friends have and haven't liked this book. I thought that I would be in the category that didn't like this book since I don't normally read these types of books.

Oh how wrong I was.

I love everything EVERYTHING about this book. It really moved me. the characters are amazing and I loved the storyline. This was just perfection.

throughout this book, I was just rooting for Olly and Maddy. They just had to be together. If it didn't happen I think that I would of threw my IPad across the room because they just seemed to work so well! and then when they went to Hawaii together, I was swooning thinking "YES, YES, YES!!!!"

I think that I have to say that I feel sorry for Maddys mum and the way which she was treated in the end. She was obviously sick and had no idea what she was doing so you should not treat her like that at all. It just isn't fair.

Now, I know that the ending can be seen two ways:
1)How could you end it like that? I want to know what happens!
2) That is the most romantic thing ever!

For me, I apply to both of these, I thought it was such a sweet ending and also I wanted just a little bit more.

Legend- Marie Lu

Book 19 of My Summer Reading Challenge

My rating 5/5 stars

This book has been on my wish list for quite some time since I saw a lot of hype over this trilogy on social media. So when I found this book in the library there was no chance that I would miss an opportunity to read this book and see what all the fuss is about. I am glad that I did pick up this book because I loved it!

On the front cover of the edition which I got it says 'If you liked The Hunger Games, you'll love this'. Now, when I see these sometimes I feel slightly put off by the book. I really enjoyed the hunger games and when a book claims to be better then I have high expectations for the book and sometimes feel a little let down that it didn't manage to meet the high expectations which I have. But I think that it is safe to say that I was not disappointed in the slightest. Was it better than the hunger games? I'm not sure. It has been years since I read the hunger games and since the movies came out my opinion of it has declined but at the time I really enjoyed it. Maybe this is on the same level?

Found on the back of this edition I was told that this book is 'Based on a retelling of Les Miserables. I had no idea what would be in store when I read this as I never watched Les Miserables as I'm not a huge fan of musicals and I would of found it boring. When I read that my first reaction was 'Oh no, here we go.' but I was pleasantly surprised.

Now onto the story, I thought that it was fantastic. I loved the two different POV so that events which were happening simultaneously were told from the perspective of both of the main characters. Their feelings of their roles were also conveyed through this and it allowed me to get attached to both characters and not just the main character who's point of view we were experiencing.

This book was not predictable. It is harder and harder to find a book now a days which is completely new and you cannot guess what is going to happen at the end. It was obvious that Day would manage to escape but the thing with John surprised me. I expected him to make it out if I'm honest. I also loved the secrecy with June's brother and her having to find the clues to the message that he sent her. I do love a good twist.

This book was so easy to get into and I easily found myself reading a large section of it in one day (even though I had work. If I didn't I would of read this in a day.) All in all, I loved this book and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who read and enjoyed books such as The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner or Divergent. (Or books along those lines)

Daughter of Smoke and Bone- Laini Taylor

Book 18 of My Summer Reading Challenge

My rating: 3.5/5 stars

I try to avoid doing .5 stars when I am rating books as I prefer it to be a whole number but in the case of this book, I just couldn't do it. I thought that the book was too good to be given a 3 star rating but at the same time, I think that it didn't just quite mange to make it to a 4.

While reading this book, I really enjoyed it. I thought that the whole concept of the plot line was really well written and it was quite an easy read, considering that I managed to read a big chunk of the book in one day. The amount of pages which I can read are an indication of how much I enjoyed this book since I just couldn't put it down for very long without wanting to pick it back up again. I would probably of managed to read this book in one day if other things didn't get in the way.

However, the reason that this book didn't get a 4 star rating from me is due to me finding this book a bit slow in areas and my mind kept wondering off during certain parts of the book so it got to the point, where I missed a few pages and didn't know what was going on, but maybe that is down to me so I cant blame the book.

I felt that the book managed to pick itself up again at the end where Madrigal's story was told. I thought it was great that we were getting some more knowledge on the whole world and what happened with her and Akiva in the past.

Another part of the book I really enjoyed was the beginning with Kazimir. Honestly, I wanted to see more of him in the book, even if he was a bit of a jerk, I thought he was a good character who offered more to the book.